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^^'/h^e^Mc^wt /iQ/f^_ 




280 



•f 2623 



THE /^S^ 

TRIUMPHS 

O F 

TEMPER; 

A POEM: 

IN SIX CANTOS. 
By WILLIAM HAYLEY, Esq. 



O voi ch* avete gl* intelletti fani 
Mirate la dottrina, che fi afconde 
Sotto* il velame degli vcrfi ftrani. 

Dante, Inferno, Canto 9. 



THE ELEVENTH EDITION, CORRECTED. 



LONDON: 

PRINTED FOR T. CADELL, JUN. AND W. DAVIES, 
IN THE STRAND. 

1801. 

[R, Noble, Printer, Old Bailey.] 



.<X\y^ \ 




PREFACE. 

IT feems to be a kind of duty incumbent on 
thofe who devote themfelves to poetr)'^, to raifc, 
if poffible, the dignity of a declining art, by 
making it as beneficial to life and manners as 
the limits of compofition, and the charadter of 
modem times, will allow. The ages,^ indeed, 
are paft, in which the fong of the poet was 
idolized for its miraculous effeEls; yet a poem, 
intended to promote the cultivation of good- 
humour, may ftill perhaps be fortunate enough 
to prove of fome little fervice to fociety in 
general ; or, if this idea may be thought too 
chimerical and romantic by fober reafon, it is 
at leaft one of thofe plealing and innocent de- 
lufions, in which a poetical enthufiaft may be 
fafely indulged. 



VI PREFACE. 



The following produdion owes its exiftence 
to an incident in real life, very fimilar to the 
principal adlion of the laft canto ; but in form- 
ing the general plan of the work, it fecmed to 
me abfolutely neceffary to introduce both the 
agency and the abode of Splebn, notwithftand- 
ing the difficulty and the hazard of attempting 
a fubjedl fo happily executed by the mafterly 
pencil of Pope. I confidered his Cave of 
Spleen as a moft exquifite cabinet pi dure ; 
and, to avoid the fcrvility of imitation, I de- 
termined to fketch the manfion of this gloomy 
power on a much wider canvas : happy, in- 
deed, if the judgment of the public may enable 
ixie to exclaim with the honeft vanity of the 
painter, who compared his own works to the 
divine productions of Raphael, 

« E fon pittore anch* lo V' 



PREFACE. Vll 



The celebrated Aleffandro Taffoni, who is 
generally confidered as the inventor of the 
modem Heroi-comic poetry, was fo proud of 
having extended the limits of his art by a new 
kind of compofition, that he not only fpoke of 
it with infinite exultation in one of his private 
letters, but even gave a MS. copy of his work 
to his native city of Modena, with an infcrip- 
tion, in which he ftiled it a new fpecies of 
|)oetry, invented by hirafelf. 

A few partial friends have affcrted, that the 
prefent performance has fome degree of fimilar 
merit ; but as I apprehend all the novelty it 
pofleiTes, may rather require an apology, than 
entitle its author to challenge commendation, 
I (hall explain how far the condudt of the 
poem differs from the moft approved models 
in this mode of writing, and (lightly mention 
the poetical efFedts, which fuch a variation ap- 
peared likely to produce. 



VIU PREFACE. 



It is well known, that the favourite poems, 
which blend the ferious and the comic, re- 
prefent their principal charafters in a fatirical 
point of view : it was the intention of Taffoni 
(though prudence made him attempt to conceal 
it) to fatirize a particular Italian nobleman, who 
happened to be the objedl of his rcfentment. 
Boileau ridicules the French ecclefiaftics with- 
out referve in his Lutrin ; Garth, our Englifli 
phyficlans, in his Difpcnfary ; and the Rape of 
the Lock itfelf, that moft excellent and en- 
chanting poem, which I never contemplate bur 
with new idolatr)', is denominated the beji Jatin 
extant J by the learned Dr. Warton, in his very 
elegant and ingenious, but fevere, Effay on 
Pope : a fentence which feems to be confirmed 
by the poet himfelf, in his letter to Mrs. 
i^'ermor, where he fays, *^ the charafter of 
Belinda, as it is now managed, refembles you in 



PREFACE. IX 



nothing but in beauty." Though I think, that 
no compoiition can furpafs, or perhaps ever 
equal this mod happy effort of genius, as a 
fportive fatire, I imagined it might be poffiblc 
to give a new charafter to this mixed fpecies 
of poetry, and to render it by its objeft, though 
hot in its execution, more noble than the moil 
beautiful and refined fatire can be. We have 
feen it carried to inimitable perfcdion, in the 
moft delicate raillery on female foibles : — it re- 
mained to be tried, if it might not alfo afpire to 
delineate the more engaging features of female 
excellence. The idea appeared to me worth 
the experiment ; for, if it fuccecded, it feemed 
to promife a double advantage ; firfl, it would 
give an air of novelty to the poem; and^ 
fecondly, what I thought of much greater 
importance, it would render it more interefting 
to the heart. On thefc principles, I have en- 



PREFACE. 



deavoured to paint Serena as a moft lovely, 
engaging, and accompliflied charadler ; yet I 
hope the colouring is fo faithfully copied from 
general nature^ that every man who reads the 
poem, may be happy enough to know many 
fair ones who refemble my heroine. 

There is another point, in which I have alfo 
attempted to give this poem an air of novelty : 
I mean the manner of conneding the real and 
the vifi(Miary fcenes which compofe it ; by ftiift- 
kig thefe in alternate cantos, I hoped to make 
familiar incident and allegorical pidture afford a 
ftrong relief to each other, and keep the atten- 
tion of the reader alive by an appearance par- 
ticularly diverfified. I wifhed, indeed, (but I 
fear moft incfFedlually) fyr powers to unite fome 
touches of the fportive wildnefs of Ariofto and 
the more ferious fublime painting of Dante 
with fome portion of the enchanting elegance 



i»ItEFACE. XI 



the refined imagination, and the moral graces 
of Pope ; and to do this, if poflible, without 
violating thofe rules of propriety, which Mr. 
Cambridge has illuftrated, by example as well 
as precept, in the Scribleriad, and in his fen- 
fible preface to that elegant and learned poem. 
I have now very frankly informed my reader 
of the extent^ or rather the extravagance of my 
defire ; for I will not give it the ferious name 
of dejign : they, whom an enlightened tafte has 
rendered thoroughly fenfible how very difficult 
it mud be to accomplifh fuch an idea, will not 
only be the firft to difcern, but the moft ready 
to pardon thofe errors into which fo hazardous 
an attempt may perhaps have betrayed me. I 
had thoughts of introducing this performance 
to the public, by a differtation of confiderable 
length on this fpecies of poetry ; but I forbear 
to indulge myfelf any further in fuch prelimi- 



>ii PREFACE. 

nary remarks, as the anxiety of authors is fo 
apt to produce, from the reflexion, that, how- 
ever ingenioufly written, they add little or no- 
thing to the fuccefs of a good poetti, and are 
utterly infufficient to prevent that negleft, or 
oblivion, which is the inevitable fate of a bad 
one. 

In difmiffing a work to my fair readers, 
which is intended principally ftr their perufal, 
I (hall only reconimend it to their attention ; 
and bid them farewell, in the words of the 
pleafant and courteous Taffoni — 

" Vaglia il buon voler, s* altro non lice, 
E chi la leggera, viva felice !" 



Eartham, 
Jan. 31, 1781. 



THE 

TRIUMPHS OF TEMPER. 



CANTO I. 



X HE mind's foft guardian, who, tho' yet unfung, 
Infpires with harmony the female tongue. 
And gives, improving every tender grace, 
The (mile of angels to a mortal face ; 
Her powers I (ing ; and fcenes of mental ftrife. 
Which form the maiden for th' accomplifh'd wife ; 
Where the fweet viftor fees, with fparkling eyes, 
Love her reward, and happinefs her prize. 
Daughters of beauty, who the fong infpire, 
To your enchanting notes attune my lyre ! 
And oh ! if haply your foft hearts may gain 
Or ufe, or pleafure from the motley ftrain, 



THE TRIUMPHS 



Tho' formal critics, with a furly frown, 
Deny your artlefs bard the laurel crown. 
He ftill fhall triumph, if ye deign to fpread 
Your fweeter myrtle round his honoured head. 

In your bright circle young Serena grew ; 
A lovelier nymph the pencil never drew ; 
For the fond Graces fonn*d her eafy mien, 
And heaven's foft azure in her eye was feen. 
She feem'd a rofe-biid, when it firft receives 
The genial iun in its eicpanding Leaves ; 
For now fhc entered thofe important years, 
When the full bofom fwells with hopes and fears ; 
When confcious natui% prompts the fecret figh, 
•And flieds fweet languor o'er the melting eye ; 
W,hcn nobler toys the female heart trepan, 
And dolls rejefted, yield their plaxre to man. 

Beneath a father's care Seheka grew ; 
The good Sir Gilbert, to his country true, 
A faithfial Whig, v/ho, zealous for the ftate, 
In freedom's lervice led the lopd debate ; 



OF T£MPf;R» 



Yet every day, by tranfinutation rare, 
Tum*d to a Tory in his elbow-chair, 
And made his daughter pay, howe'er abfurd, 
Pa/Hve obedience to his fovereign word. 

In his domeftic fway he borrowed aid 
From prim Penelope, an ancient maid, 
His upright lifter, confcious of her worth, 
Who valued ftill her beauty, and her birth ; 
Tho' from her birth no envied rank (he gain'd, 
And of her beauty but the ghoft remained ; 
A reftlefs ghoft ! that with remembrance keen 
Proclaimed inceflant what it once had been; 
Delighted ftill the fteps of youth to haunt, 
To watch the tender nymph, and warm gallant ; 
And with an eye that petrified purfuit, 
Hang, like the dragon o'er th* Hcfperian fruit. 

Tho' ftri6Uy guarded by this jealous power, 
The mild Serena no reftxaint could four : 
Pure was her bofom as the filvcr lake, 
Ere rifmg winds the ruSIed water ihdktf 



THE TRIUMPHS 



When the bright pageants of the morning Iky " 

Acrofs th' expanfive mirror lightly fly. 

By vernal gales in quick fucceflion driven. 

While the clear glafs rcflefts the light of heaven. 

In gay content a fportive life (he led, . 

The child of Modefty, by Virtue bred : 

Her light companions Innocence and Eafe ; 

Her hope was pleafure, and her wifli to pleafe : 

Fo» this, to Fafliion early rites fhe paid ; 

For this, to Venus fecret vows (he made ; 

Nor held it fin to caft a private glance 

O'er the dear pages of a new romance, 

Eager in fidion's touching fcenes to find 

A field, toexerciie her youthful mind: 

The touchhig fcenes new energy impreft 

On all the virtues of her feeling breaft» 

Sweet Evelina^s fafcinating power 

Had firft beguii'd of fleep her midnight hour : 

Poffeft by fympathy's enchanting fway. 

She read, .unconfcious of the dawning day. 




SAm^^a^. 



r.indon.raldifliU Scpeifi^,lrrTX!«drll3tFMid^ 



or TEMPER. 5 

igBB—gggagg I I I ' I !■ n il I ■ 

<* Man as he is " her gentle heart alarm 'd ; 
His troubles griev'd her, but his fpirit charm'd. 
The generous Paradyne had faults^ fhe own'd, 
But fweet contrition for thofe faults aton'd : 
In her pure thought it gave him fuch a gnice. 
He feem'd a model for the human race : 
Hermfprong arofe ; his livals all declin'd ; 
He fway'd, with fweet afcendancy, her mind : 
His favage virtues grew fupremely dear, 
Gracefully frank, and amiably auflere ; 
Soon fof the hero of her heart ihe chofe 
This bri^t reverie of fafhionable beauK, 
And, tho* a pattern of ideal truth, 
Hop'd the wide world might yield her fuch a youth. 
The Modem Anecdote was next convey 'd 
Beneath her pillow by her faithful maid. 
The nymph, attentive as the brooding dove, 
'^* Por'd o'er the tender fcenes of Franzel's love : 
The (inking taper now grew weak and pale ; 
Serena figh'd, and dropt th* unfini(h'd tale : 

B 



^a^ as v»M doo^ in iponat ae^er vbO, 
Free iraB vdbidoas pernio aod cnrioos cvc^ 

Soft findbcr fetdei OB ber iwf bpttft. 

WbcB fe» ber Tiev » IncBdy ^nioQ nib r 
A £017 Rmmmmb ftic^Kk bar nBD^ li^^bty 
Y-*y*^ as toe jo&bkt^ as xcaor bci|^fit. ^ 
AiTxfi like P^Qas vis die p%!Bnr faoav 

WlKn dK %e ggikk& ftdls tJK aKtidL ftiTK : 
Her ca^ue was ambcs^ ncblf gpcK^i abo«« 
Xif kJniown^ coQeoeci nroiB die cdttnsr ^nv^ ^ 
Bcs bnoitBiL'ci Biy.sft-*pi<ile of % *»jf,pm cfancu^ 
Was once tbe acBumr of a ^oiiEkft Sy : 
A Ims^ eve ber licxk sgts fluMH^ 
By Biiy B^i^Js conrcctBd uit» ib«H^ 
And worn of aid^ as <lfia po^cs &9;|^ 



Qf TBM?1&« 



Myfterious power was in the magic toy. 

To turn the frowns of care to (miles of joy. 

Her tiny lance, whofe radiance ftream'd afar. 

Was one bright fparkle from the bridal ftar. 

A filmy mantle round her figure play'd. 

Fine as the texture by Arachne laid 

0*cr fome young plant, when glittering to the view 

With many an orient pearl of morning dew. 

The Phantom hover'd o'er the confcious Fair 

With fuch a lively fmile of tender care, 

As on her elfin lord Titania cafl, 

When firft (he found his angry fpell was pad. 

Round her rich locks Serena chanc'd to tie 

An ample ribband of caerulean dye ; 

High o'er her forehead rofe the graceful bow, 

Whofe arch commanded the fweet fcene below : 

The hovering Spirit view'd the tempting fpot, 

And lightly perch*d on this unbending knot ; 

As the fair fluttercr, of Pfyche's race, 

Is feen to terminate her airy chafe, 



THB TRIUMPHS 



When, pleas'd at length her quivering wiAgs to clofe, 
Fondly (he fettles on the fragrant rofe. 

Now in fojft notes, more mufically clear 
Than ever Fairy breath'd in mortal ear, 
Thefc words the vifionary voice convey*d 
To the charm'd fpirit of the deeping maid : 

** Thou darling of my care ! whofe ripcn*d worth 
Shall fpread my empire o'er the fmiling earth ; 
Whom Nature bleft, forbidding modifh Art, 
To cramp thy fpirit, or contrad thy heart ; 
Screened from thy thought, nor in thy vifions felt. 
Long on thy opening mind I've fondly dwelt ; 
In childhood's forrows brought thee quick relief. 
And dry*d thy ApriUhowers of infant grief ; 
Taught thee to laugh at the malicious boy. 
Who broke thy playthings with a barbarous joy. 
To bear what ills the little female haunt. 
The tefty nurfe, th'imperious gouvemante. 
And that tyrannic pcft, the prying maiden aunt. 



or TEMPER. 



Now. ripening years a nobler fcene fupply ; 
For life now opens on thy fparkling eye : 
Thy riling bofoxn fwells with juft defire 
Rapture to feel, and rapture to infpire : 
Not the vain blifs, the tranlitory joys, 
That childifli woman feels in radiant toys ; 
The coftly diamond, or the lighter pearl, 
The maflive Nabob, or the tinfel Earl. 
Thy heart demands, each meaner aim above, 
Th' imperifliable wealth of fterling love ; 
Thy wifli, to pleafe by every fofter grace 
Of elegance and eafe, of form and face ! 
By lively fancy and by fenfe refin'd, 
The ftronger magic of the cultured mind ! 
Thy pure ambition, and thy virtuous plan. 
To fix ^he variable heart of man ! 
Short is the worfhip paid at Beauty's fhrine ; 
But lafting love and happinefs are mine : 
Mine, tho' the earth's miftaken, blinded race, 
Dcfpife my influence, and my name debafe ; 



to THE TRIUMPHS 

■7 ■rn! i ' i ' iiaaaaaBsaaBaas=a=a 



Nor breathe bne vow to that aetherial friend. 
On whom the colours of their life depend. 
But to thy innocence I now difplay 
The myftic marvels of my fecret fway ; 
And tell, in this thy faite-deciding hour. 
My race, my name, my office, and my power. 

Firft, hear what wonden human forms contain ! 
And learn the texture of the female brain ! 
By Nature's care in curious order fpread. 
This living net is fram'd of tender thread ; 
Fine as thy hand, fome favoured youth to grace, 
Knits with nice art to form the mimic lace. 
Within the centre of this fretted dome. 
Her fecret tower, her heav»n-conftrufted home. 
Soft Scnfibility, fweet Beauty's foul ! 
Keeps her coy ftate, and animates the whole, 
Invifible as Harmony, who fprings, 
Wak'd by young Zephyr, from iEolian firings : 
Her fubtle power, more delicately fine, 
Dwells in each thread, and lives in every linc> 



Of TEMPER. It 

Whofe quick vibrations, without end, impart 

Pleafure and pain to the refponlive heart. 

As Zephyr's breath the willing chord infpires, 

Whifpering foft mudc to the trembling wire^, 

So with fond care I regulate, unfeen, 

The fofter movements of this nice machine ; 

Temper, my earthly name, the nurfe of Love ! 

But caird SoPHROSYNE in realms above ! 

When lovely Woman, perfeft at her birth, 

fileft with her early charms the wond'ring earth, 

Her foul, in fweet (implicity array'd. 

Nor fhar'd my guidance, nor required my aid. 

Her tender frame, nor confident nor coy. 

Had every fibre tun'd to gentle joy ; 

No vain caprices fwell'd her pouting lip ; 

No gold produced a mercenary trip ; 

Soft innocence infpir'd her willing kifs, 

Her love was nature, and her life was bliis. 

Guide of his reafon, not his paflion's prey. 

She tam'd the fiivage, Man, who blels'd her fway.- 



la THE TRIUMPHS 

No jarring wiflies iUl'd the world with 'woes, 
But youth was ecftacy, and age repolb. 

The Powers of Mifchief met in dark divan, 
To blaft thefe mighty joys of envied Man : 
The fiends, at their infernal leader's call, 
Fram'd their bafe wiles in Demogorgon's hall, . 
In the deep centre of that dreadful dome, 
A hellifh cauldron boil'd with fiery foam : 
In this wide urn the circling fpirits threw 
Ingredients harfh, and hideous to the* view ; 
While the terrific mafler of the fpell 
With adjurations fhook the depths of hell, 
And in dark words, unmeet for mortal ear, 
Bade the dire ofispring of his art appear. 
Forth from the vafe, with fallen murmurs, brok 
A towering mafs of peftilential fmoke : 
Emerging firom this fog of thickeft night, 
A phantom fwells, by flow degrees, to fight ; 
But ere the view can feize the forming fhape, 
From the mock'd eye its lineaments efcape : 




■i-^?^/.--,^'/'- 



l^mAnJ^a^hMlJ^'yf'i^tf T.OdJl. 



OT T£MP£Rt 13 

It feem'd all palficms melted into one^ 
AiTum'd the face of all, and yet was none : 
Hell flood aghaft at its portentous mien, 
And (huddering demons call'd the fpe£lre Spleesu 

* Hie thee to earth !' its mighty mafter cried, 

* O'er the vex'd globe in heavy vapours ride ! 
Within its centre fix thy fhadowy throne ! 
With fhades thy fubje&s, and that hell thy own ! 
Reign there unfeen ! but let thy ftrong controul 
Be hourly felt in woman's wayward foul ! 
With darkeft poifons from our deep abyfs, 
Taint that pure fource of fublunary blifs !' 

Th' enormous phantom, at this potent found, 
RoU'd forth obedient from the vafl profound : 
The quaking fiends recover'd from their dread. 
And hell grew lighter as the monfler fled. 
But now round earth the gliding vapours run. 
Blot the rich aether, and ecb'pfe the fun ; 
All Nature fickens ; and her fairefl flower, 
Enchanting Woman, feels the baneful Power : 



f 4 TBS TmiirvFBt 

As in her (bul tlie doudi of Spleen triiey 
The fpr^htly efience of her beauty flies : 
In youth's giy prime, in hours with npture wi 
Love looks aftoniih'd on her altering fona, : 
To pleafiqg finolics, and enchanting wilc% 
Ltfifi-dbfting looks, and ibul4iibdning fiooiles. 
Dark whiau fiacceed : thick-coning £mctes fin 
The fiilkn paffion, »d the hafty pet ; 
The fWcUing Ikp^ the tcar-diftcnded eye. 
The peerifli queftion, the penrerfe reply; 
The moody humour, dni, like rain and fire^ 
Bknds cold diiguft with un&h^*d defire. 
Flies what it loves, and, petulantly coy, 
Fc^ps proud ahhonrenoe of the profier'd joy : 
For Nsbire's artlc& aim, the wilh to j^cafe 
By genuine modefty, and fimple eafe^ 
Fafhion's pert tricks the cr ow dtd bciin cqipiefi 
With all the pocar parade of Uwdry dre6 : 
The fickly holbm pants for notjfe and IIknt, 
For every bauble^ and fer every beau ; 



OP TBMPBR* 1^ 



The voice, that health made harmony, difowna 
That native chanh for languor's mimic tones t 
And feigns difeafe, till, feeling wha^t it feigns^ 
Its fancied maladies are real pains. 
Such, and a thou&nd ftill Ibperior woes, 
From Spleen[*s new empire o'er the earth arofe : 
Each iimple di&ate of the foul forgot, 
Then firft was foxm'd the mercenary plot ; 
And Beauty praftis'd the pernicious art, 
Of aitgUng llyly for mi old man's heart ; 
Tho' /crawling to his bride with tottering knees. 
His words were dotage, and his love difeafe. 
From (ex to fex this bafe contagion ran, 
And gold grew beauty in the eyes of man : 
Courtfhip was ttaffic : and the married life 
But one loud jangle of inceiUmt ftrife. 

The gentle Sprite, who on his radiant car. 
Shines the mild regent of the evening ftar. 
And joys from thence thofe genial rays to ihed, 
That lead the bridegroom to the nuptial bed, 



l6 TUB T&IUMPRS 



While earth's new ills his friendly foul abforb, 
From Cynthia call'd me to his kindred orb ; 
And, eager to redrefs the woes of man, 
The brilliant Ton of Vefper thus began : 
< Thou fofteft being of th' aetherial kind. 
By thy benignant cares no more confined 
To finooth the ruffled plume of Zephyr's wing, 
To guard from cruel froft the in&nt fpring. 
To drive grofs atoms from the rays of noon ! 
Or chafe the halo from the vapourifh moon ! 
Thy friendly nature will not now deny 
To quit for nobler toils thy native Iky ; 
Thou feeft how Spleen's infernal vapours roll 
Acrofs the fweet ferene of Woman's foul ; 
And earth, which darkens as her beauties fade, 
Mufl grow a fecond hell without thy aid : 
Take then thy flation ! fix thy nobler reign 
O'er thofe fine chords that form the female brain, 
That us'd, ere injur'd by the ruft of Spleen, 
To fill with harmony the human fcene ! 



OP TI1I?ER« 17 

ro ! left her touch their tender tones deftroy, 
'each them to vibrate to thy notes of joy ! 
ro ! and reftore, by ftilling mental ftrife, 
lealth to fidnt love, and happinels to life !' 
>o fpake that i^nd of man, who lights above 
lis heavenly lamp of Hymeneal love : 
n his juft aim my kindred fpirit join'd, 
^nd flew obedient to the charge aifign'd, 
ience, as the bias fways th' unconfcious bowl, 
long unieen have fway'd the carelefs foul : 
rho' oft I feel my power by Spleen fubdu'd, 
n the (hrill vixen, and the fullen prude, 
n (bme fair forms my foft dominion grows, 
^ike fragrance, rifing from the opening rofe ; 
Itill I preierve in many a lovely face. 
That gay good-humour, and that conftant grace, 
Vhich heavenly powers united to infold 
n perfeft Woman's new-created mould ; 
Vhen Nature, in her infant beauty bleft, 
The laft and lovelieft of her works careft. 



I'ft ntr TftlVMPIIS 

^■■■BEBBHHHRBBBBBBBEBBBBESBSaaaSSBaBBBBSBBBBa^ 

But pf thofe nymphs, who, delicately fair, 
Draw (oh attn6tion8 from my forming care^ 
My you9g Sirena fhines her peers above. 
Pride of my hopes, and darling of my love* 
Hence I to thee fuch myfleries unfold. 
As man's pedantic eye (hall ne'er behold $ 
Whofe narrow fciencei tho' it proudly boaft 
To pierce the iky, and count the fiarry hofl. 
Sees not the lucid band of airy powers. 
Who flutter round him in his iecret hours : 
But if to me, thy guardian now difplay'd. 
Thy duteous oriibns are jufUy paid, 
Thou to thole realms (halt pals with me thy guide, 
Where Spleen's pale viftims, after death, refidc ; 
Then to that orb, in vilion fhalt thou rife, 
(Not feen by mortal aftronomic eyes. 
Not e'en by Herfchel, whofe angelic ken 
Finds a mute flar, and bids it fpeak to men) 
Where I—- but firft let me thy foul prepare 
To meet eur fecret foe's infidious ihare { 



or TBMrsn* 19 



To live untouch'd by fubtle Spleen requires 

The ceafelels ctre of difciplin'd defires. 

*Tis my fond purpofe in thy form to (how 

The fweeteft model of my Hull below : 

A youth I defline to thy dear embrace, 

Crown'd with each mental charm, and manly grace^ 

With whom thy innocence, fecure from ftrife. 

Shall reap the beauteous joya of blamelefi life* 

Pleas'd I obferve thy little heart begin 

To afk, what charms the mighty prise may win : 

But know, tho' Elegance herfelf be feen 

To guide thy motion, and to form thy mien ; 

Thp' Beauty o'er thy filial cheek difFufe 

The ibft enchantment of her ro&ate hues, 

Not iirom their favour (hall this glory rile I 

T£MP£& (hall fingly gain the fplendid prize: 

The fudden conqueft (hall be mine alone. 

And Love with tranfport fliall my triumph own, 

Such are my hopes ; but I with pain relate 

What hard conditions are annex'd by fate ^ 



THE TlLIVM?Ht 



As chemic fires, thit pident labour blows, 
Dnw the rich perfume from the Perfian rofe. 
So muft thou form, by fiery toOs re&n'd. 
The living eflence of thy Tweeter mind* 
Dimly I fee, on DeiUny's dull gbis. 
Three dingerous trills 'tis thy doom to pa& ; 
And, oh ! if once forgetful of my power. 
Good humour fiil thee in the ftttefiil hour. 
Farewell thofe joys that wait the happy, wife ! 
Ftrewell the vifion of unclouded life ! 

Fain would my love thy feciet perils Ihow, 
Which fate allows not even me to know : 
In Spleen's dark court a thou&nd agenU dwell. 
Who bind their viflipis in the wayward fpell ! 
Perchance three prime liipporters of her fway. 
The bufieft of her fiends may orofe thy way : 
Stem ContradidioQ, her ill-&vour*d child. 
Of fierce demeanor, and of fpirit wUd, 
Bane of delight! and honor of the fex ! 
His plan to paisk, and ha pride to vex !<— 



OF TEMPER. 2t 

Or Scandal, filthy hag ! who blindly limps 
Round the wide earth, fupported by her imps, 
Her inky demons, who delight to print 
Her bafe fuggeftion, and her envious hint :— 
Or groundlefs Jealoufy, pert changeling ! bom 
Of amorous Vanity, and angry Scorn, 
Whofc bitter taunts with public infiilt dare 
Bafely to wound the unoffending fair ; 
Proud the fweet joys of innocence to cruHi, 
And fpread o-er Beauty's cheek the burning blufh. 
Whether thefe kindred fiends, or one, or all, 
Shall aim thy airy fpirit to enthrall, 
Are points, my fondnefs tries in vain to reach ; 
But truft my caution ! and beware of each ! . 
Left to thy lively mind my words may feem 
The vain chimera of a common dream^ 
By one unqueftionable fign be taught 
To prize my prefence in thy waking thought ! 
An azure ribband, on thy toilet thrown. 
Shall make the magic of my empire known : 



22 THE TRIUMPHS 



On this thy fportive needle tried its powers, ■ 
And filvet fpangles form'd the mimic flowers ; 
On thefe my love fliall breathe a fccret charm : 
With this, my ceftus, thy foft bofom arm ! 
Above it let the decent tucker rife, 
To hide the myftic band from mortal eyes I 
When Spleen's dark powers would teach that brea 

to fwell, 
This guardian cindure (hall thofe powers repel : 
As. the touch'd talifinan, more fwift than thojught, 
To fave her charge, th' Arabian fairy brought. 
So {hall this zone, if my command *s obey'd, 
Bring my quick fpirit to thy certain aid. 
In Love's great name obferve this high beheft I 
Revere my power^Be gentle, and be bleft!* 

Here the kind Sprite her friendly counfel clos'd, 
And lightly vanilh'd— Still Serena doz'd ; 
Still in fweet trance (he fondly feem'd to hear 
The foft perfuafion vibrate in her ear. 



or TElffFEK. 2^ 

But waking now far different notes fhe found ; 
Lels pleating echoes in her chamber found : 
For now the heralds of the London day 
Sing their loud matins in th' uncrowded way ; 
Th' impatient milk-maid now, with early din, 
Screams to the rattle of her pail of tin ; 
With fweep's faint cry, and, lateft of the crew, 
The deep-ton'd mufic of the murmuring J«w. 



BND OF THE riRST CANTO* 



c a 



t4 THB TftttmtBS 

..CBBaMBHBSBBBaSBSSSSBSBSSSS 



CANTO IL 

JL £ radiant nymphs ! wlioie opening eyes con^ 
Warmth to the world, and luftre to the day ! 
Think what o^erihadowing clouds may crofi you 

brain. 
Before ^ofe lovely lids fhall dole again I 
What funds of patience twelve long hours may a 
When cold Difcretion claims her daily talk ! 
AH ! think betimes! and, while your morning a 
Sheds foreign odours o^er your fragrant liair, 
Ttn^ your light fpirit with that mental fweeC, 
Which may not be exhal*d by paffion*s beat; 
But ch«m the lenfe with undecaying power, 
Thio* every chance of each diurnal bow ! 
Ob! might yow all p^rcdve your toilets crowned 
Wkb &cb cofinelics as Sskska Ibimd ! 
F«r, to tbe winoi^ vi&M fondly true, 
K«ir ibe ^ukk 6ir.«tt 10 Ibe toikl Aewc 



OFTftMPBR. * 25 

With keen delight her ravifh'd eye furvey'd 
^ JThe myftic ribband on her mirror laid : 
Bright (hone the azure as Aurora's car. 
And every fpangle ieem'd 2 living ftar. 
With fportive grace the fmiling damfel pieft 
The guardian cinfture to her fnowy breaft. 
More lovely hx than Juno, when flie ftrove 
To lode moft lovely in the eyes of Jove 5 
And willing Venus lent her every power, 
That Iheds enchantment o'er the amorous hour : 
For fpells more potent on this band were thrown,* 
Than Venus boafted in her beauteous zone^ 
Her dazzling ceflus could alone infpire 
The Ibdden impulfe of fhort-liv'd defire : 
Thefc finer threads with lafting charms arc fraught, 
Here lies the tender, but unchanging thought. 
Silence that wins, where eloquence is vain, 
And tones that harmonize the madd'ning brain, 
Soft fighs that anger cannot hear and live. 
And (miles that tell how truly they forgive ; 



26 THE THIUMPHS 

And lively grace, whofe gay difRifive light 
Puts the black phantoms of the brain to flight, 
Whofe cheering powers thro* every period laft. 
And make the prefent happy as the paft. 

Such fecret charms this richer sone pofleft, 
Whofe flowers, now fparkling on Sbrbna's brea 
Give, tho' unfeen thofe fwelling orbs they bind. 
Smiles to her face, and beauty to her mind : 
For now, obfervant of the Sprite's bebeft. 
The nymph conceals them by her upper veft : 
Safe lies the fpell, no mortal may defcry. 
Not keen Penelope's all-pierdng eye ; 
Who conflant, as the fteps of mom advance, 
Surveys the houfhold with a fearching glance. 
And entering now, with all her ufual care. 
Reviews the chambo* of the youthful fair. 
Beneath the pillow, not ccnnpletely hid. 
The novel lay — ^ftie law — fht feiz'd— fhc chid : 
With rage and glee her glaring eye-balls flafh. 
Ah ! wicked age ! fhe cries, ah! filthy txafh ! 



I*rom the firft page my juft abhorrence (prings ; 
Tor modem anecdotes are monftrous things : 
Yet will I. fee what dangerous poifons lurk, 
To taint thy youth in this licentious work* 
She faid : and rudely from the chamber rufh'd} 
Her pallid cheek with expeftation flufh'd, 
With ardent hope her eager fpirit fliook, 
Vain hope ! to banquet on a lufcious book. 
So if a prieft of the Arabian fe£l, 
In Turkifli hands forbidden wine detcft, 
The ^cred muffulman, with pious din^ 
Arraigns the culprit, and proclaims the Hn^ 
Curfes with holy zeal th' inflaming juice, 
But curfing takes it for his fecret ufe. 

The gay Sersna, with unruffled mind. 
The pleaiing novel, thus unread, refign'd* 
• The vifion on her foul fuch virtue left. 
She only (bird at the provoking theft ; 
The teafmg incident (he deem'd a jeft, 
Nor felt the zone grow tighter on her brcaft. 



SS THE TUXUMPBS 



Now in full charms defcends the finifh'd fur. 
For now the morning banquet claims her care ; 
Already at the board, with viands pil'd. 
Her fire impatient (its, and chides his tardy child 
On his imperial lips rude hunger reigns, 
And keener politics ufurp his brains : 
But when her love-infpiring voice he hears. 
When the foft magic of her fmile appears. 
In that glad moment he at once forgets 
His empty ftomach, and the nation's debts : 
He bends to Nature's more divine control^ 
And only feels the father in his fouL 
Quick to his hand behold her now prefent 
The Indian liquor of celeftial fcent ! 
Not with more grace the ne6Ur'd cup is given 
By rofe-lipp'd Hebe to the lord of heaven. 
While her fair hands a frefh libation pour, 
Fafhion's loud thunder (hakes the founding door. 
The light Serena to the window fprings, 
On curioiity's amufive wings : 



or TticPER. tgt 

Her quick eyes fparkle with furprifey to fee 

The glories of a golden vis-k-vis : 

Its glittering tablet gleam'd with mimic pearl, 

And the rich coronet announc'd an earl. 

The good old knight grew fomewhat proud to hear 

Of this new vifit from the early peer : 

Sehena recolleds the viiion's truth. 

And, fluttering, hopes it is the promis'd youth : 

Penxlopb frx>m her high chamber peeps ; 

There her unfinifh'd charms fhe coyly keeps ; 

With (age referve her modefty abhorred 

To ihew her morning hct before a lord. 

The peer alights : the well rang'd vafUds bawl 
His founding title thro' the fpacious hall, 
Till in the deep (aloon's extremeft bound 
Th' ear-tickling words, " LordFiLLiCRii " itfound 
As when great Heftor, fetting war apart, 
Advanc'd to parley, with his fp^ar atwhart, 
The Greeks beheld him with a ftill delight, 
And filent reverence ftopt the riflng fight ; 



ga THE TRIUMPHS 



With iuch refped:, but unchaftis'd by fear. 
Sir Gilbert and the nymph lirft met the peer ; 
And, while his morning compliments commence. 
The flighted breakfifl ftands in cold fufpenfe* 
But far unlike to Heftor's ruder grace 
His modem ftature, and his modifh face ; 
Nor lefs he differs froin thofe barons old, 
Whofe arms are blazon'd on his car of gold ; 
Whofe proftrate caftte guarded once the lands, 
Where, fpruce in motley pride, his villa fbnds, 
By tafte erefted, in, her tximmeft mode. 
Her mufhroom ftrufture, and her quaint abode* 

As the neat daify to the fun's broad flower. 
As the French boudoir to the Gothic tower, 
Such is the peer, whom faftiion much admires,' 
Compared in perfon to his ancient (ires : 
For their broad fliioulder, and their brawny calf. 
Their coarfe, loud language, and their coarfer laugh, 
His finer form, more elegantly Aim, 
Difplays th^ fafliioaable leDgth of limb : 



OP TSMPEX. 3t 

With foreign fhrugs his country he regards. 
And her lean tongue with foreign words he lards ; 
While Gallic graces^ who corre6k his flylei 
Forbid his mirth to pais beyond a feaile* 
As the nice workman in the wooden trade 
Hides his coarie ground, with fined woods o'erlaid, 
Thus our young lord, with fafhion's phrafe refin'd, 
Fineer'd the. mean izUerior of his mind : 
And hence, in courtefy^s mild luftre feen, 
His fpirit {hone, as graceful as his mien* 
The artlefs fair, on fafhion's kind report. 
Thought him the mirror of a matchleis court : 
Much (he his drefs, his language much obferves, 
Whofe finer accents prove his feeling nerves. 
Her fimcy now the deftin'd lover fpies. 
But her free heart abjures the quick furmife ; 
Yet as he fpoke, at every flattering word 
The vifion's promife to her thought recurr'd* 
Far more parental pride contrives to blind 
The good Siit Gilbxat's' more experienc'd mind^ 



8* 



TBI TRIUMPHS 



Who fondly faw, and at the profpeB; {mil'd, 
A future counted in his ^ivourite child. 
But what new ilutteiings {hook Sexena^s bread. 
What hopes and fisars the modeft nymph oppreft. 
When with a fimpering (mile, and Toft regard. 
The peer difplay'd a mirth-expreffive card. 
Where the gay Graces, in a fportivc band. 
Shew the fweet art of Cipriani's hand ; 
Where, in their train, his airy Cupids throng. 
And laughing drag a comic maik along t 
" We," cries my lord, with felf-fufficient joy^ 
Twirling, with lordly airs, the graceful toy, 
" We, who polTefs true fcience, we, who give 
The world a lelTon in the art to live, 
We for the fair a fplendid fete defign, 
And pay our homage thus at Beauty's flirine/' 
He fpoke ! and fpeaking, to the blufhing maid. 
With modifh eafe, th' inviting card convey 'd. 
Where Mirth announC'd her mafque-devoted hour 
In chara£brs intwin'd with many a flower : 



ap T£MPEA. 83 



The blufhing maid, with eyes of quick defire. 
Viewed it, and felt her little foul on fire ; 
For of all fcenes flie had not yet furvey'd, 
Her heart xnoft panted for a mafquerade : 
Sut her f;ay hopes increasing terrors drown. 
And dread forebodings of her £ither*s ^wn« 
In mute fiifpenfe to iiead his thought fhe tries. 
And ftrongly pleads with her prevailing eyes, 
Her eyes, for doubt enchain'd her modeft tongue. 
While on his fovereign word her pleafure hung* 
With fuch a tender and perfuafivc air 
Of fofit endearment, and of anxious care, 
Thetis attended from th** almighty {m 
His fateful anfwer to her fond deiire t 
The good old knight, like the Olympian god, 
Bleft the fair fuppliant with his gracious nod ; 
Her lively fpirit the kind fignal took, 
And her glad heart in every fibre fhook* ^ 

The party fettled, it imports not how, 
The peer j^olitely made his parting bow : 



34 



THB T&IUMPB3 



Thc.nymphi with ^yc&^ that fparkkd joyous fire, 
Kifs'd the round ^heek of her complying firci 
Then fw^ftly fleWy and fummon'd to her aid 
Th' important counfel of her &vourite maidy 
To veAt her joy, and as the moments prels. 
To fix that firft of points, a fancy dreh. 

Quick as the poet's eyes o'er nature fly, 
Piercing the deep, or travcrfing the iky^ 
With fuch light ^leed her fond ideas glance 
O'er play and poem, ftory and romance. 
While all the chara&ers ihe e'er has read 
Flafh on her hrain, and fill her hufy head* 

Now in Diana's form {he hopes to meet 
A fond Endymion fighing at her feet ; 
Now. her proud thought terrefbrial pomp affumei 
And Dian's crefcent yields to Indian plumes ; 
Now, in the.hahit of the Grecian ifles. 
She hears (bme Ofinin fuing for her finiles, 
And fees his foul that hlaze of dreiis outfhine, 
Whofe wealth impovenih'd a diamond mine } 



Of TJIMFEIt* 35 



Now iimpler charms' her quick attention draw. 

The rofd-crownM'bo&net, and the hat of ftraw, 

A village maid (he feems, in neat attire, 

A faithful (hepherd now her fole defire* 

Thus, as new figures in her fancy throng, 

'^ She's every thing by ftarts, and nothing long ;'* 

But, in the fpace of one revolving hour. 

Flies thro' all ftates of poverty and power. 

All forms, on whom her veering mind can pitchy 

Sultana, gipfy, goddels, nymph, and witch. 

At length, her foul with Shakefpeare's magic frau^t^ 

The wand of Ariel fixt her roving thought ; 

Ariel's light graces all her heart polTels, 

And Jenny's order 'd to prepare the drefs. 

It feems already bought, with fond applaufe ; 

An azure tilTue, and a (ilver gauze ; , 

Too foon, alas ! that garb of heavenly hue 

The ready mercer flafhes to her view* 

Ah, blind to fate ! how oft the youthful belle 

Feels her gay heart at fight of tiffue fwell ! 



^ THE TRIUMPHS 



And thinks the falhionable iilk muft pix>ve 
Her robe of triumph, and a fpdl to love ! 
To thee, fweet maid, whofe pleafiire-darting eyes 
Joy in this favourite veft, an hour (hall rife, 
When thou (halt hate the iilk fo fondly fought. 
And wifh thy (llver-fpotted gauze unbought * : 
For bufy Spleen thy trial now prepares ; 
Darkly {ht forms her unfufpefbed fiiares. 
And, keen to raife her pleafure-killing ftonn, 
AlTumes Penelope's congenial form. 
In that prim {hape which all the Graces fiiun. 
See the four fiend to good Sir Gilbert run ! 
Where deeply pondering the public debt. 
Silent he mufes o'er a new gazette ! 
Ent'ring, fhe view'd, with eyes of envious fpite, 
The card, that fpoke the mafque-devoted night : 

* Nefcia mens homioum fati fortifque fiitune, 
£t fervare modum, rebus fublata fecundis. 
Turao tempus erit, magno cum c^taverit emptum 
IntaAum Pallanta, ct cum fpolia ifta diemque 
Oderit. uEoeid. z. y. 501. k ftq. 



OF tEMPEIt. • 37 

.£agcr (Kc darted on the graceful toy, 
-And, fiercely pointing to each naked boy, 
** Canft thou," fhe cried, in a difcordant fcream, 
That rous'd the politician from his dream, 
While with her voice the echoing chamber rings^ 
« * Say ! canft thou fufier thefe flagitious things P 
Are thefe devices to thy daughter brought, 
That wake fuch grols impurity of thought P 
In vain are all the prudent words I preach, 
The modeft maxims that I ftrive to teach ; 
By foolifh fondnefs of your fenfe beguil'd^ 
You ftill indulge and fpoil the flippant child : ' 
For me, whatever I fay is decm'd abfurd ; 
She fcorns my fage advice :— but mark my word, 
If to this ball you let the hoyden run. 
Your power is ended, and the girl undone." 
The patriot knight, by interruption vext, 
In his political purfuits perplext, 

Iliad I. V. 872, et Crq. 



jfi TN£ TRIUMPRS 

ffr r*-""**""" ' ' »*.— ^-.->-^~^>^^-^..^»-^ III. ■■ ij I ■ ■ ■■ 

While he with Wrath th' int^dinig Mifchief eyed, 

Stern to the falie Psablope replied : 

" Go, teafing prude ! ceafe in ay ears to Vent 

Thy envious pride, and pecvifli difcontent ! 

To me of prudence canft thou vainly boaft ? 

Of all my houfehdld thou haft plagued me moft : 

The joys thou t)lameft are thy dear delight. 

By day the vifit, and the ball by night : 

And, tho' too old the lover to trepan. 

Thy midnight dream, thy morning thought is mar 

Wert thou lefs clofely to my blood allied, 

Thou fhould'ft, to cure thee of thy canting pride, 

Be ient to (igh alone o'er purling brooks. 

Scold village maids, and croak to croaking rooks. 

He fpoke, indignant : the fly fiend withdrew. 
Nor inly griev'd ; for well her force flie knew. 
As Indian females, in a jealous hour. 
Of fecret poifon try the fubtleft power. 
Which fure,tho' flow, corrodes th* unconfcious pr< 
lAnd ends its triumph on a diftant day : 



OF TEMFEKr 39 

Thus the det>artifig fury left bdiind 

Her venom, litent in Sir Gilbert's mind. 

The UHth ttiichkf th%>' no tye obferves. 

He feels k trettvhg xm his alter'd nerves ; 

But the lAtiA hsibk of his healthy foul 

Still ftruggled hard tgainft its bale control. 

Now S^eOi^ dark vapours, in his hofom hid, 

Prompt him the ptomis'd pleafure to forbid ; 

Now Love's ibfit pleadings that dire thought deftroy^ 

And lave the bloflbm of his daughter's joy ; 

Her envuMis tfunt now ferves him for a jeft, 

And gay g«»od-humouir reaflumes his In-eajfl. 

While Spleen's dark power now (inks, and now 
^revives, 
At kngth the day, th' important day arrives, 
Which in his bread muft end the clofe debate. 
And fix the colour of Serena's fate. 

Now comes the hour, when the coftvivial knight 
Waits to begin the dinner's cheerful rite : 
His fond heart ever with a fioher's pridci 
Joys to behold Us darling at Vus bdft \ 
D a 



40 THE TRIUMPHS 

mssmaBmBaaasassaBsaBssssaBSBSSKSSSSBSSss 



But moft the abfence of her (inile he feels 

In the gay talon of his focial meals : 

Hence, while for her the rich repaft attends. 

His hafty fumtnons to the nymph he fends : 

The happy nymph fuperior cares induce 

To rifk his anger by a raih excuie : 

She craves his pardon ; but, for time diftreft, 

She ftill is bufy on her magic veil ; 

To range her diamonds in a fparkling 2one 

She begs to fnatch her fcanty meal alone. 

The knight in fullen flate begins to dine : 
Spleen, like a harpy, flutters o'er his wine : 
•Invifible fhc poifons every difli. 
Tinging with gall his mutton, fowl, and fifh. 
The more he eats, the more perverfe he grows ; 
For as his anger funk, his choler rofe. 
The cloth remov'd, he cries, with vapour lickj 
The pears are mellow, and the port is thick ; 
Tho' nicer fruit Pomona never knew, 
And his rich wine furpals'd the ruby's hue ! 



OF TEMPER* 4t 

aaaBsaa i m ■aaasasaa m n 

A thoii&nd times his dizzy brain revolves 
A ftem command : now doubts and now refolves 
To bid the nymph defcend, and difarray'd, 
Quit her dear proje6h of the mafquerade : 
As oft kind nature to his heart recurr'd,. 
And love parental flopt the cruel word. 

Meantime, unconfcious of the brooding ftorm^ 
The nymph exults in her improving form : 
Gay is her fmile, as thofe the queen of love 
Darts on the Graces in her court above, 
While they contrive, with love-infpiring cares. 
New modes of beauty for the robe {he wean* 
At length, each duty of the toilet paft^ 
The glance of triumph on the mirror caft, 
Now the light wand our flnifh'd Ariel arms ; 
Glad Jenny glories in her lady's charms ; 
And gives full utterance, as fhe (mooths her veft. 
To the fweet bodings of Serena's breaft. 

Oh ! lovely bias of the female foul ! 
Which trembling points to pleafure's diflant pole ; 



4* TH» TUlWrtti 

Which with fead tnift oa fltttmng kipB 
Q'exleaps aU pcrik tf»l j» f«9rpjcft ryi^ 
And fpringtng to Che goal «iy|icipa|^ ^ 
Such was St K IB ma's fetr^difcvdiog ftilt] 
Her eye beheld not the isA frowiM offy^ 
She only faw» the combat all fc^ot. 
The triumph promised as her glorious lot 

Now» eager to difplay her light attJl^ 
The fprightly dam&l feeks her fiillpo fire i 
His gloomy brow with fportivc air (he U 
Ah ! how could Spleen that magic lip rej 
That voice, whofe melting mudc might a 
The fcorpion Anger's felf-tormenting ragi 
For ne^er did Nature to a (ire's embrace 
Prefent a filial form of fofter grace ; 
Or Fancy view a fhape of lovelier k]|id 
In the bright mirror of her Shakefptaft's 

The fulky fiend, in fpite of all her art, 
Had now been banifh^d from the father's 
But jthat, Fefolv'd her utmoft force to try 
She fummonM to her aid her old ally, 



-SEf£; 






Ji^^s 


« ^K-^?; ■r:^y-'» fJi'JEj 






l^ff^^.,,.!vjrir>g|i^ 










OF XEMtBlt. 



The fiery demon, temper-troubUng Gout, 
Who finlLS the lively, and appals the ftQut ; 
Who no^, aQifting Spleen's malignant aim^ 
Shoots in qiiick throbbings thro' Sia Gilbert'* 

frame. 
Thus forely pcftcr'd by a double foe, 
Galling his giddy brain, and burning toe, 
The tefty knight, with ftem and fuUen air, 
Dehounc'd his humour to the fhuddering fair : 
^* Go change yoia: drefe ! give up this vain delight ! 
I will not hear of mafquerades to-oight : 
I muft recall my word, too fondly meant. 
So change your drefs, and (it with me content," 

As the proud dame, whofe avaricious glee 
Built golden caftles in the rich South Sea, 
Caz'd on lier broker, when he told her firft 
Her wealth was vaniih'd, and the bubble burft : 
So gazM the nymph, hearing her fire deftroy 
Her airy palace of ideal joy, 
Firil her fond thoughts to flattering doubt inclme, 
And deem the harfli command no ftx'd fe^x^gc^^ 



44 THE TRlOMPHS 

But the quick Cilly of a pcevifli word, 
That love revokes the moment it is heard : 
Or haply mirth, in mimic wrath expreft, 
A feign'd forbiddance utter'd but in jeft : 
To this fhort hope her (inking fpirit clung, 
To fee his foftening eyes refute his tongue. 
Ah, fruitleis hope ! for there fhe cannot find 
The well-known fignals of the friendly mind. 
Stem contradiction, with the frown of fate. 
On his dark viiage reign'd in fullen ftate ; 
Felt in each feature, in each accent fhown, 
Lower'd in his look, and thunder'd in his tone* 
Hence the warm bofom of the lively Fair 
Now fbivers with the chill of blank defpair : 
Now difappointment's thick'ning fhadows roll 
A cloud of horror o'er the darken'd foul ; 
And fancy, in a fick delixium toll. 
Gives double value to each pleafure lofl. 
The blafted joys (he labours to forget, 
Rufh on her mind, and waken keen regret : 



OF TEMPER, 45 

SSBSSSS^^BSSBBBaBaBSaSSSSSaaBBBSaaBB 



Her cheek turns pale — ^thc tear prepares to ftart, 
And palpitation heaves her fwelling heart* 
But here, Sophrosyne ! thy guardian aid 
Saves from her potent foe the finking maid* 
Her bofom, into ftrong emotions thrown, 
Now feels the preffure of thy friendly zone. 
Swift thy kind cautions to her foul recur, 
More quick to cancel faults than prone to err* 
As the rough fwell of the infurgent tides 
By the mild impulfe of the moon fubfldes. 
So, by her myftic monitor repreft, 
The flood of padion leaves her lightened bread ; 
From her clear brain each cloudy vapour flies, 
And joy's bright ray rekindles in her eyes. 
Reviving gaiety full luftre fpread 
O'er all her features, and with (xniles fhe faid, 
*^ Let others drive to pleafure's diflant dome ! 
Be mine the dearer joy to pleafe at home !" 
Scarce had flie fpoke, when flie with fportive eafe 
Preft her piaao-forte's £iiv 'rite keys. 



O'tf fcfteft ru^ ^ yapM fingcirs ran. 
Sweet pirclwk |a jtbe Air &e thia began : 

SovHROf YWB ! thou guaid ifn&sn ! 

Whde ddicate control 
Can turn the £fcord of chagrin 

To harmony of foul ! 
Above the )yn, the lute above. 

Be mine thy melting tone. 
Which makes the peace of all we love 

The bafis of our own ! 

So fung the nymph, not uninfpir'd : the f 
Invok'd fo fondly in the myftic rite. 
With richeft mulic fwell'd her waibling throi 
And gave new fweetnefs to her (weeteft note* 
As when the feraph Uriel firfl begun 
His carol to the new-created fun, 
The fiicred echo fhoc^ the vaft profound, 
And chaos peri&'d at the potent found : 



or TIMffEft* 4f 

So, at the magic of Sir en a'< ftrain, 
Spleen vanUh'd from her firths ehaodc brain ; 
Whole fibres, lightened of that load, rejoice 
In the dear accents of her dulcet voice. 
Much he inclines kis mandate to recall. 
And fend the iair-one to the promised ball ; 
But flubbom pride forbids him to revoke 
The folemn fecM;ence which ill humour fpoke* 
Still conscious of her power, the nymph prolongs 
The foft enchwtment of her Toothing fqngs ; 
Which his fond mind in fiim attention iceep, 
To his fixt hour of fupper and of fleep : 
This now arriv'd, the knight, retiring, flied 
A double blefling on his darling's head ; 
And with unufual exultation preft 
His lovely child to his parental breaft. 

Thus yMlt te reft the happy (ire withdrew. 
The nymph, more happy, to her chamber flew ; 
And, Jenny now difinifs'd, the grateful fair 
Breathes to her guardian Sprite this tender prayor : 



4^ TH£ TRIUMPHS 

" Thou kind prcfcrvcr ! whofe attentive zeal 
Gives me in this contented hour to feel 
That deaieft pleafure of a foul refin'd. 
The triumph of the {elf-corre£led mind ; 
If happy in the ftrength thy (miles impart, 
I own thy favour in no thanklefs heart. 
Still let me view thy fonn, fo juftly dear ! 
Still in kind viflons to thefe eyes appear ! 
Thy friendly diftates teach me to fulfil ! 
And let thy aid avert each future ill \" 

While fond devotion taught her thus to fpeak, 
The foft down finks beneath her lovely cheek, 
And fettling on her lips, that fweetly clofe. 
Silence, enamoured, lulls her to repofe* 



£NO or THE SECOND CANTO. 



OF TEMFXHtf 49 



CANTO IIL 

X £ kind tran^orters of th' excurfive foul ! 
Ye vifions ! that when night enwraps the pole. 
The lively wanderer to new worlds convey, 
Efcaping from her heavy houfe of clay, 
How could the gentle fpirit, foe to flrife. 
Bear without you this coil of waking life ? 
Its grief-embitter'd cares, its joyleis mirth, 
And all the flat realities of earth ? 
Sweet phantoms ! you the glowing hope infpire, 
You give to beauty charms, to fancy fire, 
When, ibaring like the eagle's kindred frame, 
The poet dreams of everlafling fame ; 
Or, tickled by the feather of the dove. 
The fofter virgin dreams of endlels love. . 



There was a time, when fortune's bright decvees 
Were feen to realize fuch dreams as thefe : 
Now dangerous vidons the fond mind &coy 
Vainly to pant for unexifting joy. 
While belles and bards with mournful fighs exclaim) 
Mortality has feizM both Love and Fame, 

Ah, fair S]fek£KA ! might the boaR be duiRl 
T6 clear frotn fuch a charge thde heavenly pbwers ! 
Bleft ! might thy batrd deferve in Fai&e to fte 
A guard as faithful as Love proives to thee i 
Bleft ! if that airy being ^d his life, 
Who fav'd thee trembling on the brink of ftrife. 
And ndw, kind prompter of thy nightly dream, 
Fiird thy rapt fpirit with her fecred beam i 
For foon as fluinber fet thy foul at large, 
Thy guardian power tevifited her charge ; 
And, lightly hovering o'er th' illumin'd bed, 
Thus with fond fmiles of approbation fidd r 
" Well haft thou paft, fwfe^t maid ! onfe trying Icenc. 
One fiery ordfeal Of the tyrant Spleen 2 



Thia^ toy Sbrxha, vha(jr thy force fulbih 

£ach harcter ti^ thtt maf yH itHMdn t 

Againft the fiend to fortify thy foul, 

By ufeful knoWledge of hiftr dark COmfbl^ 

I come to fhew thee whact no mortal eye^ 

Save thine, was e^er permitted to defcry ; 

The realms, where Spkefi^s infernal agents ^d 

The ghoftly tenants of her drear ahode» 

Now fimimon all thy ftrength I throw fear alkie. 

And finnly tnift in thy aetherial guide 1'* 

She fpoke : and thro^ the night's &rr6uhding 
(hade 
Th* bbedient nymph, riOt unappalPd, cohvey'd ; 
Thro' long, long traSs of darkneit, on they paft 
With fpeed, that (truck the trembling maid aghaft, 
Till now, recovering by degrees, £he found 
Her firm foot prefs upon the folid ground. 
Encourag'd by her guide, at length Ihe tries 
To fearch the gloomy fcene with anxious eyes« 



5t THt TRIUMPHS 

OBBBaSBBBSSSSSaBBBSaBBBSSaBBBSSBiBSBiiBSB^ 

* <* Thro' me ye pais to Spleen's terrific dome, 
Thro' me, to Difcontent's eternal home : 
Thro' me, to thofe-who (adden'd human life. 
By fuller humour, or vexatious ibife ; 
And here, thro' fcenes of endleis vapours hurl'd, 
Are punifh'd in the forms they plagued the world 
Juftly they feel no joy who none beftow. 
All ye who enter, every hope forego !" 
O'er an arch'd cavern, rough with horrid (tone, 
On which a feeble light by flafhes {hone, 
Thefe charafters, that chill'd her foul with dread, 
Serena, fixt in filent wonder, read. 
As fhe began to fpeak, her voice was drown'd 
By the fhrill echo of far other found : 

* Per me ft va nella citta dolente. 
Per me h va dcU' etemo dolore. 
Per me fi va tra la perduu gente, 

Lafciate cgni fperanxa, voi ch* intraCe. 
Quefte parole di colore efcuro 
Vid* io fcritte al foromo d' una poru. 

Pants, Inferao. 3. 



or ffei«?Et* 5Jgi 

Forth from the ]porUl ItmMitable cries 
Of wailing infimts, without number, rife. 
CompaflSon to this poor and piteous Hock 
Ud the kind nymph ftill nearer to the rock. 
The pining band within Ihe now efpied, 
And, touched with tender indignation, cried, 
** How could theTe little forms, of lift (b brief, 
Definrre this ditis abode of hfting grief f** 
** — ^Well may thy gentle heart be fcre cdncem'd 
At fight fo moving,** the mild Sprite retufn'd : 
*« Thou fecft in thofe, whofc wailings wound thy 

ears, 
The puny progeny of modem peers : 
Their (ires, by avarice or ambition led, 
Aliens to love, approached the nuptial bed ; 
With proud indifference, and with cold diftafte, 
Their homely brides reluftantly embraced, 
And by fuch union gave di&ftrous birth 
To thefe poor pale incumbrances of earth, 



54 TBI TRIUMPHS 

Who, bred in vanity, with pride their dovper, 
Were Spleen's fure vidims &om their natal hour, 
And in their fplendid cradles pul'd and pin'd. 
Till Fate their ill-fpun thread of life untwin'd. 
And to this veilibule convey'd their ghofts. 
To form the vanguard of th' infernal hofts» 
But let not pity's ineffedual charm 
Impede thy progreis, or thy firength difium 1 
Follow and fear not ! guarded by my care 
From all the phantoms that around thee glare*" 

She fpoke : and enter'd, ere the nymph replied) 
A pafs, that open'd in the cavern's fide. 
Low, dark, and rocky — ^with her body bent, 
Serena follow'd down the dire defcent* 
A fudden light foon flruck her dazzled view \ 
But 'twas a light of fuch infernal hue, 
Aji double horror to the darkneis gave, 
With dread refle6lion from a dufky wave. 
Round a black water tatter'd fpe6ires ftand, 
With etch a tiny taper in its hinA; 



* OP TEMPIR, 55 

Fierce niendicants i who ibrive fome alms to win 
From the.£ur ftranger, with incefTant din. 
The guardian Spirit iaw Serena grieve. 
To hear of wants fhe knew not to relieve ; 
And to the generous nymph in pity cries ; 
** The gulf of Indolence before us lies. 
O'er whofe dull flood, to which no bank is ieen, 
A boat muft waft thee to the dome of Spleen. 
Thele pallid figures that, around theeiprefs. 
And haunt thee with importunate diftreis. 
On earth were beggars of each different dais, 
Tho' blended here in one pronufciaous mafs^ 
rhe poor, who fpum'd kind Induffay's control. 
Hie rich, who begg'd from penury of foul i 
Both by their abjea pride alike debas'd, 
Qlafphcm'd that nature which they both^difgrac'd^ 
And, hither by the fullen fiend convey'd, 
Eiere ftillthey ply their inefleftual trade i 
In chafe of each new pafTenger they run. 
Condemned to beg from all, to gain by none* 
E & 



^6 XHl TaiimPBS 

But kom tbefe wretched turn thy ft«ill«ft cttfft^ 
Behold tfat gall htfctt thtoe^ mA bei¥a«e 
Nor touch the ftroiiD) which Mon&l kitA 6lurc6toes, 
And by itt hdeiiil ehana the feid hcmmbu f ** 
^ —Can knortU pais !*' the (faucU'iiag AyMph 

repUed^ 
« This fulieh, flow, unnivigatbte tkk. 
In whoft hlack current this thbftMM ttittulMl 
Of fhapehft Aooe Appeal*, Ms h«ttid to«tt«i| 
That feene ill nverlaftkHg goaffi «b keep 
O^er the dull wtters tiiat beneeih il onep ?*' 

While yet (he ^oke, with m reftniMiiiif di<>ck|. 
Fdrth irem the arch of the iaipeni&ig reek. 
Which o^ the murmuring eddy httng fo low. 
The lazy river fcarce had room to flow, 
Of rude conftru£Hon, and i(n roiigheft pUght^ 
A boat now iflu'd to SfeRENA'i flghl } 
An empty boat, that flowly to tht Sn&tt 
Advanc'di witholit the aid of fidl M ^9^ $ 



J^s^ 




QP TBMPEK. 57 



J 



Self-mov'cl it ftom'dy but Ibon the oymph beheld 
A grifly figiuty wbo the Aem impelPd. 
Wading baiiiAd, the homd fbiin appeared } 
Above the wrter hU ftvpng ana ha rearM, 
And cn|fc the creeping flood the craiy vefiel (ber' 
The heavenly Sprite ebCerv'd her txembling ward, 
Whole growini 6an the bideeiu paia abhorr'd. 
And cheeriqg thus ibe fpake : ** This fpeare boafta 
The chief dominion of thefe dreary coafts : 
To him,, thy pilot, without dread, conlign 
And place thy body in hia bark fupine ! 
So thro* thit arching rock thou 'It pais alone, 
Safc fipMi the perils of th' incumbent ftone : 
Embark undaunted !•— on the farther fide 
Thou *U furely find me, thy unfailing guide. 
Nor let tUa pilot raife thy groundlcfa dread, 
This fiillen Charon of the f roward dead, 
A phantom, never bleft with human life, 
Tho* oft on earth hit noxioua power is rife ; 



5^' THE. Tftltrit^PHt* 



Apd in that region, ne'er from error, free, * 

The words be di&tes are aflign'd to me* 

Ohferve this fiend, that Nature fcorn'd to frame, • 

Offspring of Pride, and Apathy his name ! 

Paffions he ne'er can feel, and ne'er impart, 

A mtf«created imp, mthout a heart ; 

In plate of which his fubtle parent pinn'd 

A bladder, fill'd with circulating wind. 

Which feems with mimic life the maft to warm. 

And gives hlk vigour to his bloated form. 

But place thee in the boat his anus diic^ 

My lov« fliall witch thee, and my power prote&'*^ 

So fffkt the frtendly Spnte ; tk^obo^ent maid 
Her fxm along tbe mnow refel bid: 
But oil ! wlol lenoffs fldke Ikt lemler finl^ 
As fcom the Ome Ike bail bcfiw to ioll» 
And^ leY«r d fem b«r frkndl>. b«r <w» < 
TW fttena^ %«aK w«dJHi^ «t tfe Aoni ! 
F«r ati ^ ngu t Ims bar wWnfiiitt mril^ 
TWn ^tfl^ wbkk edl ^b«<ti£] 



OP TSMPEK. 59 

I I ssssssssss 111' sa . 

When, by the honoiurM (hade of Virgil led 
Thro' all the dreary circles of the dead, 
Hell's fi^ceft demons tlueatenM to divide 
The living poet from his (hadowy guide ; 
And bade him, friendlefi, and alone, return, 
Thro' the dire horrors of the dark fojoum. 
Not long 'the lovely fair-one's terrors laft ; 
For (afely thro* th' impending rock fhe paft : 
And flow advancing to the gloomy ftrand, 
The fiillen pilot brings her fafe to land. 
There, foiidly hovering on her guardian plumes, 
The heavenly Monitor her charge refumes 5 
And (xniling, leads along the rocky road, 
Whofe windings open into Spleen's abode. 

Thou queen of (hades ! whofe fpirit-damping fpell 
Too oft is feen the poet's pride to quell, 
May I unpunifli'd by thy fubtle power, 
Dare to difplay thy fubterranean bower, 
And to this wondering upper world explain 
The (hadowy horrors of thy fecrct reign ? 



T^^ TftmM?Hs 



Entoring beneath a wi4e fsmUftic arqh| 
Round the 4r«4r cbrcujt qf the doQ^e iboy iBardi 
Which % paje Bs4h fx9f» many a fiery tfiafy^ 
Frequent iUuja£S with intermittiog light ; 
Such as on earth, to ^tuperftition^t eye, 
Denounces ruin from the northern iky. 
While (he diicemsj amid the nightly glare. 
Armies embattled in the blazing air* 

Around the nymph uxmumber'd phantoms glK 
Here fwell the bloated race of bulky Pride : 
In clofe and horrid union, there appear 
The wilder prc^eny ©f frantic Fear ; 
Mif-fhapen monikers ! whofe ftupendous frame 
Abhorrent Nature has rcfus'd to name. 
Here, in cameleon colours, lightly flit 
The motley of&pring of diforder'd Wit. 
All things prodigious the wide cave contain'd. 
And fotms, beyond what fable ever ieign'd : 
But, as the worm, that on the dewy green 
Springs half to view, and half remains unfeen, 



or TBKt«&« 61 

mammmmmmmBsnBmmmmaBmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm 
Perceivuig near its ccU » human Uead» 
Slinks back to eartk, and UiiM k» timid hpfd 7 
So, ivliitti thft hoavenly Spirit de^'d to kad^ 
The ftaitkd fp«eii8a from her (bsp recede } 
And, as aWfliM tliey from her eye fetWi 
Sink into mift* or melt in fluid fire« 
High on an ebon throne, (uperUy wrought 
'With each fierce figure of fioitaitic thoughts 
In a deep covet where no bright beam intrude^ 
O'er her bla^k fchemes the fuUen empreis broods^ 
The fcreech-owrs minglfd with the raven's plumt 
Shed o'er hei furrow'd brows an awful gloom ; 
A gaibi that glares with ftripes of lurid flamC| 
Wraps in terrific pomp her haggard frame ; 
Round her a ferpent, as her zonei^ is rQll'd,, 
Which| writhing! flings itUf in every fold* 

Near her psiviUoni in barbaric ftate^ 
Four mutes the mandates of their queen await* 
From ficUy Fancy bred, by fiOlen Sloth, 
Both parenU' curfbi yet pamper'd (till by bothy 



6s TBS TRIOMPHt 

Firft ftands DUeafe ; an hag of magic power) 
Varying her fxightful Tilage ^very hour,' 
Her horrors heightening as thoie changes laft. 
And each new form more hideous than the paft. 
Detra6Hon next, a (hapdeis fiend, appears, 
Whofe {hrivell'd hand a mifty mirror rears ; 
Fram'd by malignant Art, th' infernal toy 
Inverts the lovely mien of (miling Joy, 
Kckxi rofeate Beauty of attra^ve grace. 
And gives a ftep-dame*s frown to Nature's face. 
The third in place, but with a fiercer air, 
See the true Corgon, Di&ppointment, glare ! 
By whofe pctrific power Delight 's o'erthrown ; 
And Hope's warm heart becomes an icy ftone. 
Lafl, in a gorgeous robe, that, ill bcftowM, 
Bows her mean body by its cumbrous load. 
Stands fretful Difcontent, of fiends the worfl. 
By dignity debas'd, by bleffings curft. 
Who poiibns Pleafure with the fourcfl leaven. 
And makes a hell of Love's ecfbtic heaven. 



OY TEMYER* 6g 



The guide celefUal, near this ghaflly group. 
Perceived her tender charge with terror droop : 
*« Fear not, fweet maid !^' fhe cries, •* my ftepspurfuei 
IMor gaxe too long on this infernal crew ! 
Turn from Detraction's ^fcinating gfaifs j 
In filence crois the throne 1 obferve, and pais ! 
3eyond this dome, the palace of the queen, 
Her empire winds thro' many a dreary fcene, 
Where (he torments, as their deferts require, 
Her various viftimsthat on earth expire ; 
Each clais apart : for in a different cell 
The fierce, the fretful, and the fullen dwell : 
Thefe (halt thou (lightly view, in vapours huf l*dy 
And fwiftly then regain thy native world« 
But firft remark, within that ample niche, 
With every quaint device of fplendor rich. 
Yon phantom, who, from vulgar eyes ¥dthdra¥m9 
Appears to ftretch in one eternal yawn : 
Of empire here he holds the tottering helm, 
Prime BiiiiUUr io Spleen's difcordant realm^ 



THM 9h%^H¥m$ 



The piU«r of bcr (piwtdwg fbu^ v^ mott^ 
Hat 4isliag tSuffcmif y/hem <m wrih fto boKi 
F«r» Hi oil MStli lui w«ywird aolb«r ftniy*4» 
Grandeur^ wilth tyM of fin, Imt fcrm furvtyM) 
And with ftroog ptfton ftiniog frosi bit lb'om» 
UnloQs'd lilt (uUm ^ue^i^'t vehiftmt. tout » 
From hiifiBbra«e^ icoiK»iv^ miMody jey» 
Rofe t)it ¥Qmi4 u»age of % Uottrd boy : 
His nmr& wti lodoknfit s Us lulor Pcnip» 
Who kepi tht d&ild froai every childiih romp ; 
They rear'd their mirfliiif to the hulk you 6e» 
And hit pcoud parent c«U'd tbtir imp l^iiNyi, 
This «alm ht rvlfi^ tnd in fvpc^ attire 
Vifits each ourthly ptlaot of hit fire : 
A thouland (hapa he iiPetci, now pert» 0(m priAb 
Purfues each grave conceit, or idle whim ; 
In unBty in artt, in goremnieot eng«ge9» 
With montrcht, poett» poUcicians, 6gQS ; 
But dropt etdi wotk tht noioent it '# hQgWA« 
And, tryiog all thbga cm tcccBipUfll 9iQ0t : 



or TiMMK* m$ 

Yet o'er ctodi XMlk, aid ige, and ftx^ lu Any 
SpxiidsUBdifcMi'd» aCkittilket the iMtUldi pRf. 
The light cnyiH) wdd Srtatni^ fi^ 
To find hilt li*k ih Pleaftaf t vdn di%tiifc | 
JkaiiimffiN9mKtkflikAra%f m her tell, 
ThAt holjr wiler hut iMgiiftiiit his fpelk 
As the ftnngtt ntofter iif tiie far)ieiil hMed* 
TbiCliraiitA, «t ilrsvelkifes tdl, tfat nttflij ititdl» 
DevoMTseirii aohkr haft, t&4' fifmlj gMfite 
To fize and ftrahgch ivq^ttiflt to hit own r^ 
For on the gtttixif Imik^ «r Iti^ hall, 
Subtly he ^[Hdaigs, of daik fidiva MI, 
With iwiftly^4hrtiBg tMigud his yrty anoiiita 
With venoili, potent to diflblva ics joints, 
And| nrfaik its hulk in liquid poifim fivinn, 
Swallo^n its melting hone and fluid linba :^^ 
So thii fiMiuii tUh wonder-working tll^ 
Can vanqoiOi pomon tar mightiar than UiaAtf i 
Nor Wit mx Scitaae fair hfe m^ th0te» 
And oft ta hiica Oft fiitCCiiM L9Vt» 



But oh ! whtft Various il6iAt from withia 
Fill the Text air widi cue ftupcndoui din I 
Mourmng'adoep groin, ImnI Abger's ffwricMill oilly 
Terror't loud cry, vid Aftftakton's fi}uall» 
The fob of Paffion, the hyfteiic fcrtadn. 
And fhrieks of Ficnzy, in ita ficrts eactiakie ! 
In this wild Uproar tirciy ibund'a combin'dy 
That ftuns the feafes, and diftraai tfatf mind. 
*« hbA** (to the wtfAfk Sovhaoitms W^n) 
« The fiere^ Xcntipfie flaning in the Iran, 
The vafe (he emptied oH the (age's head, 
Hanfs o'er her oWn^ a diiietent fliower to ihed $ 
For, ditop by drop, di(tilling liquid fike, 
It fills the vixen witli hew tropes of ire*. 

Beyond the Gi^ocian dame extend yoiilr ▼itfw^ 
And mark the fpeftra of » nodem ikrew I 
Sht, who whene'er (he did'd^ with furioUs look» 
Spum'd her nice food, and bellowed al her cctok. 
Here juftly feels m etdiaary rack. 
Bound like larioti 1^ t wldrtifig jadi^^ 



OF TEMPSH. 69 



Sereka gaz'd, but foon (he turn'd away, 
Mute with difguft, and (huddering with difinay. 
** To fcenes lefs hideous let us now repair!" 
(Said the kind guard of the dejefted fair) 
And, cheering her faint charge, her ftep Ihe led 
To the near dwelling of the fretful dead. 
Of dufky adamant the dungeon rofe ; 
A dingy mirror its dark fides compofe, 
Refleding, with a thoufand quaint grimaces, 
The pale inhabitants' difborted faces. 
" Here, like a dame of quality array *d. 
Sits Pceviflinefs, predding o'er the fhade. 
And frowning at her own uncomely mien,. 
Whofe coarfe refle£Uon on the wall is fcen. 
A (harling lap-dog her right-hand reflrains. 
Her lap an infant porcupine contains^ 
Which, while her fondnefe tries its wrath to ftill. 
Wounds her each moment with a pointed quill. 
The froward fpirits here in durance fret, 
Whofe tefly life was one continued pet ; 
p 



^O THK TIIUIIPHS 

Here they in trifles that vexation find, 
Which teas'd on earth their irritated mind. 
Obferve the phantom, "who with eyes afkance 
Still to the mirror turns her eager glance ! 
See ! to her cheek, incelTant as (he turns. 
Her vex'd blood rufhes, and her vifage bums. 
Beauty for lading blifs had formed the maid ; 
Love to her charms his faithful homage paid ; 
But, all this fwelling tide of joy to check, 
A fatal freckle rifes on her neck : 
Her foft cofmetics the griev'd nymph applies, 
Succefs attends her, and the freckle dies : 
But ah ! this viftory avails her not ; 
She finds an hydra in the teazing fpot : 
Fail as one flies, another (lill fucceeds. 
And with eternal food her fretful humour feeds. 

Near to the nymph, in a more moody fit, 
See the pale phantom of a peevifh wit ! 
Mark with what frowns his eager eyes peruCe, 
Wet from the prelis, three Critical Reviews I 



OP tEMt»ER. 7t 



With wounded vtoity*s diftrtfting rage 
How rapidly he runs thro* every page ! 
He finds fome honours lavifh'd on his verfe, 
And joy's faint glcairts his gloomy fpirit pierce. 
But oh ! too foon thefe feeble fparks decay ; 
And keen vexation re-aflumes her prey. 
Hating reproof, in every fibre fore, 
One cenfur^d particle torments him more^ 
More than a hundred happier lines delight) 
Which liberal favour condefcends to cite. 

But time will fail us, if we paufe to view 
The various torments of the tefty crew ; 
Thofe wretched chemifts, whole o'erheated brain 
£xtra£b from nothing a fubflantial pain. 
Yet, ere to different diftrifb we advance, 
Take of one fretful tribe a tranfient glance t 
Their unfufpe&ed punifhments fupply 
A Icflbn, ufeful to the female eye. 
Spleen's livelicft agent here beguiles the gay, 
Fair to attrafl^ and flattering to betray/' 

F 2 



72 THE TRIUMPH! 



As thus the kind aetherial guardian fpoke, 

Within a rock, whence plaintive murmurs broke. 

She touch'd a fecrct fpring, whofe power was fuch, 

Two jarring doors unfolded at the touch, 

And, with the charms of regal fplendor bright, 

A cheerful banquet fparkles to the fight. 

Viands fo light, fo elegantly grac'd, 

Might tempt e'en Temperance herfelf to tafte ; 

For fruits alone composed th' enticing treat. 

Fair to the eye, and to the palate fweet. 

In fuch bright juice the peach and cherry (wim, 

As make the topaz and the ruby dim. 

Here crown'd with every flower, and gaily drcft 

In all the glitter of a Gallic veft, 

Whofe ample folds her loathfome body fcreen'd, 

A child of luxury reigns, a fubtle fiend ! 

Who with a grace that every heart allures, 

Smiles on the luftre of her rich liqueurs. 

Her fatal finiles their utmofl power exert 

To poifon beauty at her dire deflert ; 



OF TEMPER. 73 



To blafl the rofe that health's bright cheek adorns, 
And (ill each fefUve heart with latent thorns : 
For the fly fiend, of every heart pofle/l, 
Steals on th* aflfeftion of her female gueft ; 
And, by her foft addrefs feducing each, 
Eager fhe plies them with a brandy peach : 
They with keen lip the lufcious fruit devour ; 
But fwiftly feel its peace-deftroying power. 
Quick thro* each vein new tides of frenzy roll : 
All evil pafllons kindle in the foul, 
Drive from each feature every cheerful grace, 
And glare ferocious in the fallow face ; 
The wounded nerves in furious conflift tear, 
Then fmk, in blank dejeftion and defpair. 
Effeas more dire, thus tempting to deceive, 
The apple wrought not in the foul of Eve ; 
Howe'cr difguis'd, in jelly or in jam. 
Spleen has no poifon furer than a dram. 

" But haftewc now," (the heavenly leader cries) 
" To where this penal world's lail wonder lies !" 



74 THE TRIUMPHS 

She fpoke ; and led the nymph thro' deeper dells, 
Low murmuring vaults, and horror-breathing cells. 
And now they pals a perforated cage, 
Where rancorous fpe£bres without number rage. 
** Avert thine eye!" (the heavenly fpirit faid) 
" Nor view thefe abjeft tribes of envious dead ! 
Who pin'd to hear the voice of truth proclaim 
A fifter's beauty, or a brother's fame ! 
Tho* crown'd with all profperity imparts. 
High in their Various ranks, and feveral arts ; 
Yet, meanly funk by envy's bafe control ; 
They died in that confumption of the foul ; 
And here, thro' bars that twifted adders make, 
And the long volumes of th' envenom'd fiiakc, 
O'er this dark road they dart an anxious eye. 
Still envying every fiend that flutters by. 
Pals ! and regard them not !"— Th* attentive maid 
In filent tremor the beheft obey'd. 

This dungeon croft, her weary feet flic drags 
Thro' winding caverns, and i)'er icy orags : 



OF TEMPER. ^5 

Soul-chilling damps in the dark pafTage reign. 
Which iffucs on a vaft and dreary plain, 
Fann'd by no breezes, with no verdure crown 'd ; 
The black horizon is its only bound. 
And now advancing, in a drizzly mid, 
Thro' Allien phantoms, hating to exifl, 
Sereka fpies, high o'er his fubjefls plac'd, 
The ghaflly tyrant of the gloomy waftc. 
Murmuring he fits upon a rocking flone, 
Th' unliable bafe of his ill-founded throne : 
Hideous his face, and horrible his frame, 
Miianthropy the grifly monfter's name ! 
Him to fierce Pride, with raging paflion fore, 
The frowning gorgon, Difappointment, bore ; 
On earth detefted, and by heaven abhorr'd, 
Of this drear wild he reigns the moody lord. 
Few are the fubje^ of his wade domain. 
And fcarce i female in his frightful train, 
Except one changing corps of ancient prudes : 
Relu£buit here the prying band intrudes. 



76 THE TRIUMPHS 

Each, who on earth, behind her artful fan, 
Feign'd coarfe averfion to the creature man, 
Is doom'd, in this dark region to abide 
Some tranfient pains for hypocritic pride. 
Here cver-during chains thofe fcoffers bind, 
Whofe writings deaden ;knd debafe the mind: 
Who mock creation with injurious fcom. 
And feel a fancied void in plenty's horn. 

In his right hand, an emblem of his cares, 
A braiich of aconite the monarch bears ; 
And thofe four phantoms, who this region haunt, 
He fe^ds with berries from this deadly plant ; 
For, ftrange to tell ! tho' fever'd from its root. 
The bough ftill blackens with fucceflive fruit* 
The tribes, who tafte it, burfl into a fit 
Of raving mockery and rancorous wit ; 
And pleased their tyrant's ghaftly fmile to court. 
By vile diflortions make him various fport* 
The frantic rabble, who his fway confefs, 
Before his throoe an hideous puppet drefs ; 



OF T£lfPC&« 77 



When in unfcemly rags they have array'd 
The image, from their own dark femblance made, 
In horrid gambols round their work they throng, 
'^Vith antic dance and rude dicordant fong ; 
Satire's rank of&ls on the block they fling, 
And call it nature, to delight their king : . 
While in their features he exults to fee 
The frowns of torture, mixt with grins of glee. 
For, as thefe abjeft toils engage the crew. 
Their own grim idol darkens to their view ; 
Wide and more wide its horrid ftature fpreads. 
And o'er the tribe new conflemation fheds : 
For each forgets^ in his bewilder'd gaze, 
Tis but a monfter, which he help'd to raife. 
As o'er its form their dizzy glances roll, 
. It ftrikes a cheerlefs damp thro' all the foul. 
Vainly to fhun the baleful fight they try. 
It draws for ever the relu^ant eye : 
At each review with deeper dread they ftart ; 
A colder chaos numbs each freezing heart. 



78 THE TRIUMPHS 

No mutual confidence, no friendly care, 
Relieves the panic they are doom'd to bear ; 
For as they ftirink abforb'd in wild affirighti 
When each to each inclines his wounded fight. 
They feel, for focial comfort, four difguft, 
And all the fullen anguifh of diflruft. 

Around thefe wretches in the drear abode, 
The ghafily grinning fiend Derifion nxk, 
Who to their wayward minds on earth fupplied 
Perverted ridicule's malignant tide* 
His fteed of Pegafus the femblance bore ; 
But with falfe wings, that knew not how to (bar : 
Where'er he pafs'd, with mifchief in his look, 
A founding whip of knotted fiiakes he (hook : 
And laugh'd in lafhing each pretended fage, 
Whofe malice wore the mafk of moral rage. 
An uncouth bugle his left hand difplay'd» 
From a grey monkey's fkuU by Cunning made. 
And form'd to pour, in harmony's defpite, 
Sounds that each jarring fenic of pain excite z 



OF TSMPBR. 79 

And now his livid lips the bugle blew ; 
Thro* every den the piercing difcord flew : 
The fiends all anfwer'd in one hideous yell, 
And in a fearful trance Serena fell, 
llence from the lovely nymph her fenfes fled, 
Till thro' the parted curtains of her bed, 
The amorous fun, who now began to rife, 
Rift, with a fportive beam, her opening eyes. 



END OP THB THIRD CANTO. 



8o THE TRIUMPHS 



CANTO IV, 

Jrl AI L, thou enlighten 'd globe of human joy ! 
Where focial cares the foften'd heart employ : 
What cheering rays of vital comfort roll 
In thy bright regions o'er the refcued foul, 
Which, 'fcaping from the dark domain of Spleen, 
Springs with new warmth to thy attradive fcene ! 
Once more I blefs thy pleafure-breathing gale. 
And gaze enchanted on thy flowery vale, 
Where fmiling innocence, and ardent youth, 
Sport hand in hand with beauty and with truth. 
Sport on, fwcet revellers ! in rofy bowers. 
Safe from th' intrufion of all evil powers ! 
Ah fruitlels wifh of the benignant Mufe, 
Which to this chcquer'd world the Fates refufe ! 
For round its precinfts many an ugly fprite 
Speeds undifcern'd to poifon pure delight : 



OF TEMPER. 81 



Amidfl: the forexnoft of this haggard band, 
Unwearied pofter of the fea and land, 
Wrapt in dark mifb, malignant Scandal flies, 
While £nvy*s poifon'd breath the buoyant gale 

fupplies. 
Tho' Sheridan, with fhafts pf comic wit, 
Pierc'd, and expos'd her to the laughing pit, 
Th' immortal hag ilill wears her paper crown, 
The dreaded emprefs of the idle town : 
\0'crleaping her prerogative of old, 
"To fink the noble, to defame the bold ;— ^ 
In chafe of worth to (lip the dogs of flrife, 
Thro' all the ample range of public life ; — 
The tyrant now, the fan6luary burfl 
Where happinefs by privacy is nurft. 
Her fury rifing as her powers increafe, 
O'ertums the altars of domeflic peace. 
Pleas'd in her dark and gall-difUlling clou^j 
The fportive form of innocence to fhroud, 
Beauty's young train her baleful eyes furvey,' 
To mark the fdreft, as her favourite prey. 



Ss THE TRIUMPHS 



Hence, fweet Serena, while thy fpirit ftray'd 
Round the deep realms of fubtcrrancan (hade, 
This keeneft agent of th* infernal powers 
On earth was bufied, in thofe trapquil hours, 
To blaft thy peace, and poifon'd darts to aim 
Againft the honour of thy fpotlefs name : 
For Scandal, reftlefe dend, who never knows 
The balmy blefling of an hour's repofe. 
Worn, yet unfated with her daily toil, 
In her bafe work confumes the midnight oil. 
O'er fiercer fiends when heavy flumbers creep, 
When wearied avarice and ambition fleep, 
Scandal is vigilant, and keen to fpread 
The plagues that fpring from her prolific head. 
On truth's fair bafis fhe her falfehood bviilds, 
With tinfel fentiment its furface gilds ; 
To nightly labour from their dark abodes 
The demons of the groaning prelis (he goads, 
And finiles to fee their rapid art fupply 
Ten thou&nd wings to every infimt lie. 



OF TEMP£R« 83 

■ nil , l aggaBBBeggaBMB— B— i 



In triumph now behold the hag applaud 
Her keen and faVritc imp, ingenious Frauds 
Her quick compofitor, whofe flying hand 
Has clos'd the paragraph (he keenly plann'd. 
No nymph (he nam'd, yet marked her vile intent. 
That dulnels could not mils the name fhe meant : 
In iatire's tint3 the injur'd fair fhe drew, 
In form tn angel, but in foul a Jew. 

It chanc'd her fire among his fricndi inroU'd 
A wealthy fenator, infirm and old ; 
Who, dup'd too early by a generous heart, 
Rafhly afTum'd a mi&nthropic part : 
Tho' p^evifh fancies would his mind incruft, 
Good-nature's image lurk*d beneath their rud ; 
And gay Sskbna, with that fportive wit 
Which heals the folly that it deigns to hit, 
Would oft the (icknefs of his foul beguile. 
And teach the fullcn humourift to imile ; j 
Pleas'd by her virtuous frolics to afluagc 
The mental angutib of diflemper'd age. 



84 THE TRIUMPHS 

This ancient friend, in a farcafUc (ketch, 
Was mark'd by Scandal as a monied wretch, 
For whom the young, yet mercenary feir 
Had fubtly fpread a matrimonial fnare. 
With fuch bafe matter, more difFufely wrought, 
The fpirit-piercing paragraph was fraught, 
0*er which with glee the eye of Scandal glar'd, 
Which for the opening prefs herfelf prepar'd ; 
She on the types her inky wad let fall, 
And fmear'd each letter with her bittereft gall ; 
The preis, whofe ready gripe the charge receives, 
Stamps it fuccefUve on ten thoufand leaves, 
Which pil'd in heaps impatient feem to lie, 
They only wait the dawn of day to fly. 

Now, as the child, in lonely chamber laid. 
Mute in the dark, and of itfelf afraid, 
When, haply confcious of the pain it feels. 
The watchful mother to its pillow fteals. 
Springs to her brdift, and ihakes off all alarms, 
Feeling its iafety in her foftering arms : 



OP TEMPER. "85 

"With fuch quick joy, in innocence as young, 
The foft Serena from her pillow fprung, 
Pleas'd to awake from her terrific dream, 
And feel the cheerful fun's returning beam. 
Eager ihe rofe, in bufy thought, nor ftaid 
The wonted fummons of her pun£lual maid. 
And as her own fair hands adjuft her veil, 
The guardian cinfture flutters on her bread ; 
For fondly, when Ihe wak'd, or when fhe (lept, 
Still round her heart th* important zone (he kept. 
Thou happy girdle ! to thy charge be juft ! 
Firm be thy threads, and faithful to their truft ; 
For hours approach, when all the ftores they hide 
Of magic virtue, muft be flrongly txued !— 
iNow, while h^r kind domeftic heart intends 
To pleafe her early fire, the nymph defcends ; 
But fleep, who left the fair with fudden flight, 
With late wings hover'd o'er the good old knight; 
And the chill circle of the lone faloon 
Informs the ihiv'ring maid (he rofe too foon. 



86 THE TRIUMPHS 

'Tis true, attentive John's un£dling care 
Began the rites of breakfaft to prepare ; 
But yet no fires on the cold altar bum. 
No fioDoke arifes from the filver urn, 
And the blank tea-board, where no viands lay, 
Only fupplied the paper of the day. 

Tho' xoild Serena's peace-devoted mind 
The keen debate of politics declined, 
An^ heard with cold contempt, or generous hate. 
The frauds of party and the lies of ftate ; 
Nor car'd much more for fafhion's loofe intrigues^ 
Than fa£Uous bickerings or foreign leagues; 
Yet, while ihe (aunters idle and alone. 
Her carelefk eyes are <m the paper thrown. 

As fome gay youth, whom fportive friends engage 
To view the furious ourang in his cage, 
If while amus'd he fees the monfler grin. 
And trufts too carelels to the bolts within. 
If the (ly beaft, as near the grate he draws. 
Tear him unguarded with proje&ed paws, 



OV TIMPIR. tj 

Starts at the wound^ and feels his bofom thrill 
With pain and wonder at the fudden ill : 
So did SsKENA ftarty fo wildly gaze, 
In fuch mixt pangs of anguifh and amaze, 
Feeling the wound which Scandal had defign'd 
To lacerate her mild and modeft mind. 
Startled, at one who from ele£bric wire 
Unheeding catches unfufpefted Hre, 
She reads, then sLlmoft doubts that fhe has read, 
And thinks fome vifion hovers round her head ; 
Now, her lixt eye fome ftriking words confine, 
And now (he darts it thrice thro* every line ; 
Nor could amazement more her fenfes {hake, 
Had every letter been a gorgon's (hake. 
Now riling indignation takes its turn. 
And her flufb'd cheeks with tingling blufhes bum. 
With reftlefs motion and with many a frown. 
Thro* the wide room Ihe paces up and down : 
Now, mufing, makes a momentary (land. 
The fatal paper fluttering in her hand* 
o 2 



THE TRIUMPHS 



So the (hy bird, by cruel fportfraen fprung^ 
And by their random fire feverely flung, 
Scar'd, not difabled, by the diftant wound, 
Now trembling flies, now fkims along the ground,. 
Noy/ vainly tries, in fomc fequcfter'd fpot. 
From hcrgor'd bread to fhakethe galling fhot. 
Ye tender nymphs ! whofe kindling fouls would 
flame, 
Touch'd, like Serena's, by injurious Uaxne^ 
O let your quick and kindred fpirits fonn 
A vivid piAure of the mental (burm 
In which (he laboured, and wh<^ force to paint 
The Muie*s (Irongeft tints appear too £unt! 
In fympathctic thought her fu&rii^ iee ! 
But O, Ibr ever firom (uch wroi^ be &w! 

Her ^iihful girdle try'd ite power to fiire^ 
And cA A iftOQitorv impuliie gave ; 
StiU UKuejianfcd^ aiU urJelt, it pieft 
Wkh uiiekis energy bitr iK^vins bnaa» 



OF TEMPER* 89 



Her mind, forgetful of the magic zone> 
Full of the burning (haft by Scandal thrown. 
With blended notes of fotrow and difdain. 
Thus in diforder'd language vents its pain :— • 
" Had Malice dar'd my honour to defame, 
The felf-ref uted lie had loft its aim : 
But here the world, deceived by lland'rous art, 
Muft think Serena has a venal heart." 
A venal heart ! at that detefled found, 
In fwelling anguifh her funk voice was drown 'd« 
Now was a fearful crifis of her fate : 
Diflended now by paflion's growing weight, 
And for its miftreis EU'd with confcious dread, 
The magic girdle crack'd thro' every thread. 
And fnapp'd perchance by Scandal's force accurft, 
From her full heart the guardian zone had burd, 
And, fpite of all the virtues of the fair. 
The fpell of happinefs had funk in air. 
But that SoPHROSYNE, whofe friendly fear 
Timely forefaw this trial too fcvere, 



90 THE TRIUMPHS 



An early fuccour gaiii'd from fi^^'Lovei 
Frox9 the fell kite to fiiatdi the fiJ&g dove. 

As Nature ftudies, in her wide domainy 
To blend ibme antidote with every bane ; 
Thus her kind aid the friendly power contrived. 
That, from the quarter whence the woun d a rrive J i 
Thore flow'd, the anguiih of that wound to cahn, 
A Toothing, foft, and medicinal balm. 
As in her agitated hand the fair 
Wav'd the loofc paper with difordcr'd air. 
In capitals (he (aw Serena flame : 
She blufli'd, (he fhudder'd, as flie view'd the name ; 
Her ready fears fubiide in new furprife. 
And eager thus (he reads with lighten'd eyes: 

<« Go, faithful fonnet, to Serena fky 
What charms peculiar in her features ragn : 

A ftranger, whom her glance may ne'er fiarvey. 
Pays her this tribute in no flattering ftrain. 




Unden /uMi/Aai .i^^^^^M.^ T.thde/l Jinuui. 



or TlMPEft. 9t 

SaBSBSBOBBBSESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSaSSSBBSSSSSSSSSSS^^ 

Tell her, the bard, in beauty's wide domain^ 

Has feen a virgin cheek as richly glow^ 
A bofom, where the blue meandering vein 

Sheds as foft luftre thro' the lucid ihow, 
Eyes, that as brightly flaih with joy and youth^ 

And locks, that like her own luxuriant flow : 
Then fay, for then fhe cannot doubt thy truth. 

That the wide earth no female form can fhow 
Where Nature's legend fo diftinftly tells. 

In this &ir ihrine a fairer fpirit dwells." 

With curious wonder the reviving maid 
View'd this fond homage to her beauty paid ; 
A fecond glance o'er every line (he caft, 
And half pronounc'd and half fupprels'd the hil, 
While modeft pleafure, and ingenuous pride^ 
Her burning cheek with deeper crimfon dy'd. 

O Praiiel thy langiuge was by Heaven defign'd 
As ^namu to the faint bewilder'd mind: 



99 THE TRIUMPHS 

SMSmBSBBSSi 

Beauty and Diffidence, whofe hearts rejoice 
In the kind comfort of thy cheering voice. 
In this wild wood of life, wert thou not nigh. 
Mud, like the wandering babes, lie down and die; 
But thy fweet accents wake new vital powers, 
And make this thorny path a path of flowers: 
As oil on ocean's troubled waters fpread, 
Smooths the rough billow to a level bed, 
The foothing rhyme thus foften'd into reft 
The painful tumult of Serena's breaft. 

Now, to herfelf rcftor'd, the confcious maid 
The lurking fiend's infidious fnare furvey'd; 
Her nerves, with grateful trepidation, own 
A flighter preffiire from the faithful zone^ 
And in fond thought (he breathes a thankful prayci 
For her aetherial guardian's conftant care ; 
Yet with a keen defire her bofom glow'd 
To hear from whom the gentle fonnet flow'd; 
But kind Sophrosyne, who watch'd unfeen. 
To ihield her votary firom the wiles of Spleen, 



OF TEMPER* 9J 

As friendly Love had fixt a future time, 
When to reveal the fecret of the rhyme, 
Strove till that hour her fancy to reftrain, 
Nor let her anxious wifhes rife to pain. 
As gaiety's frefli tide began to roll, - 
Faft in the fwelling channel of her foul. 
The good old knight defcends, tho' eager, flow^ 
The gout ftill tingling in his tender toe ; 
And now, paternal falutations paft. 
His eyes he keenly on the paper caft. 
While his fweet daughter, with attentive grace^ 
Before him flies his ready cup to place ; 
For tea and politics alternate fhare. 
In friendly rivalfliip, his morning care* 
Tho' (mooth as oil the knight's good-humour flows. 
When the mild breeze of plea&nt fortune blowsy 
Yet, quick to catch the cafual fparks of ire. 
Like oil it kindles into mounting fire ; 
And fiercely i;iow his flaming fpirit blaz'd, 
While on thole galling words he wildly gaz^d, 



94 



THX TftllTMFKS 



Whofe force had almoft work'd into a ftona 
The gentler elements in Beauty's fomu 
As the (arcaftic (entence caught his view. 
Back from the board his elbow-chair he drew^ 
And, by (harp ftings of fudden fiiry prick'd, 
Far from his foot his gouty ftool he kick'd. 
Fierce as Achilles, by Atrides fhing. 
He pour'd the ftream of vengeance from his tongue. 
But ah, thofe angry threats he deigned to fpeak. 
Had founds, alas ! hr differing from the Greek. 
Rage from his lips in legal language broke ; 
Of juries and of damages he fpoke. 
And on the printer's law-devoted head 
He threaten'd deep revenge in terms mod (hnead ; 
Terms that ivith pain the ear of Beauty pierce, 
And oaths too rough to harmonise in verSt, 

While thus the good old knight, with paffion hot; 
His toaft negle&ed, aud his tea forgot. 
The difcord of the drama to increafe. 
Now prim PiNSLorx affiuls her niece ; 



OF TEM7EII. 9J 

^■■■■■■■■■B—i n iii i 'm i l l I I sssssssKsasBaBsm 

For, as Sir Gilbert now, with ckoler dumb, 
Points her the period with his angry thumb, 
*< Ah ! brother,*' cries the (liiF, malignant crone, 
(Her fharp'eye fwiftly thro* the fentence thrown) 
« Scandal could never rife to heights like this. 
But from the manners of each modem Miis; 
Had but my niece, lefs giddy and more grave, 
Obfcrv'd the prudent hints I often gave—-*' 
The honeft knight her vile conclufion fiiw, 
And quick curtail'd it with a tefty " Pfliaw!" 
Meanwhile the gentle maid, who heard the taunt, 
Survey 'd without a frown her prudifh aunt : 
Far other thoughts employ'd her fofter mind, 
To one fweet purpofe all her foul inclin'd ; 
How {he might clofe th* unpleaiant fcene, how beft 
Reftore good humour to her Other's breaft. 
Her airy guardian with delight furvey'd 
Thefe tender wifhes in the lovely maid. 
And, to acc(»npli(h what her heart de(ir*d, 
Trains of new thought above her age infpir'd. 



^ THS TRIUMPHS 

As Venus on her fon's enlighen*d face, 
Shed richer charms, and more attra6live grace, 
When iffuing forth from the diflblving cloudy 
His bright form burfl on the admiring crowd: 
So kind SoPHROSYNE, unfeen, fupplies 
A livelier radiance to Serena's eyes; 
And, ere (he fpeaks, to captivate her fire, 
Touches her lips with patriotic fire. 

It chanc'd, that tofs*d upon a vacant chair, 
A volume of that wit lay near the fuir, 
Whofe value, try'd by Fafliion's varying touch,^ 
Once rofe too high, and now is funk too much ; 
The book, which Fortune plac'd within her reach, 
ContainM, O Chesterfield, the liberal fpeech 
In which thy fpirit, like an Attic fage, 
Strove to defend the violated ftage 
From fetters bafely forg'd by minifterial rage. 
From this the nymph her ufeful leffon took, 
And thus began, reclining on the book :— 
*' If on this noble lord we may rely, 
Scandal is but a fpeck on Freedom's eye ; 



J 



OF TEMPER. 



9T 



And public fpirit, then, will rather bear 

The cafual pain it gives by growing there, 

Than*, by a rafh attempt to move it thence, 

Hazard the fafety of a precious fenfe. 

And, by the efforts of a vain defire, 

Rob thi^ life-darting eye of all its fire. 

Tho' the pure breaft of Innocence may (mart. 

By cruel Calumny's corroding dart. 

Yet would (he rather ache in every nerve. 

And bear thofe pangs fhe knows not to deferve, 

Much rather than be made a fenfelefs tool, 

To aid the frenzy of tyrannic rule, 

Or forge one dangerous bolt for Power to aim 

At facred Liberty's fuperior frame." 

As ancient chiefs were wont of old to gaze. 
With eyes of tender awe, and fond amaze 
On the feir prieftefe of the Delphic fane, 
When firft fhe utter'd her prophetic drain, 
£nt|anc'd in wonder, thus Sir Gilbert view'd 
His child, yet more infpir'd, who thus purfu'd : 



f^ft THS T&lVMPKt 

« For me, I own, thcfe lines, with gall replete, 
Shot thro' xny fimple heart a fudden heat; 
But happier thoughts my riiing rage repreft. 
And tum'd the pointlefs infult to a jcft : 
And oh! fhould Slander ftill new vrrath awake, 
Still may my father, for his daughter's fake, 
Difdain the vengeance of litigious fbrife. 
And let Serena's anfwer be— her life!'* 

She ended with a finile, whole magic flame 
Shot. youthful vigour thro' her Other's frame: 
His age, his anger, and his gout, are fled ; 
" Enchanting girl !" with tears of joy, he faidf 
<< Enchanting girl !" twice echoed from lus tongue} 
As, fpeaking, from his elbow-chair he fprung, 
** Come to thy father's arms I— By Heaven, tho« art 
His own true of&pring, and a Whig in heart." 

He fpoke ; and his fond arms aroiuid her curl'd 
With proud grafp, Teeming to infold the world* 
Her confcious heart fhe feels with triumph beat^ 
And joys to find that triumph is complete ; 



F< 
«( 

S 

I 
i 



t>P TEMPER. 99 



For ftifF Penelope, >vho near them ftood, 
" Albeit unufed to the melting mood,** 
Squeez'd from her eye-lid one relu£bnt tear. 
And foften'd with a dniie ber brow fevere : 
But 'twas a fmile of fuch a gloomy grace. 
As lightened once upon Ale&o's face. 
When Orpheus pad her, leading back to life^ 
From Pluto's regions, his recover'd wife, 
When love connubial, join'd to mufic's fpell, 
Moiften'd with tender joy the eyes of hell. 
Far other finiles, with pleafure's fofeft air, 
Gild the gay features of the youthful fair : 
She looks like fportive Spring, when her young charms 
Wind round her hoary fire's relu£lant arms. 
And, by a frolic infantine embrace, 
Banifh the rugged frown from Winter's face. 
Thro' the long day fhe felt the glowing tide 
Of exultation thro* her bofom glide ; 
And oft fhe wifh'd for flow-approaching night, 
To hold fweet converfe with her guardian fprite. 



too THE TRIUMPHS 

asBsassss ■» 



At length the hour approach'd her heart defir'dy 

And, in her lonely chamber now retir'd, 

Her tender fancy gave the fondeft fcope 

To ardent gratitude and eager hope. 

•' Dear airy being !" (the foft nymph exclaim'd) 

** Whofe power can break the fpcll that Spleen has 

fram'd, 
Can, by the waving of thy viewlefs wing,. 
O'er darkefl forms a golden radiance fling, 
And make, in minds by (brriefl thoughts perplext^ 
This moment's grief the triumph of the next ; 
I blefs thy fuccour in each trial paft $ 
. £e prefent Rill, and fave me in the lafl!'' 

Thus, with her lovely eyes devoutly fixt. 
Where rays of hope, and fear, and reverence mixtj 
The tender fair her faithful guard addreft, 
Then with her cheek her downy pillow preft ; 
But long her wakeful lids refufe to clofe. 
For curiofity difpels repofe. 
Her bufy mind the myftic veil would pierce, 
That hides the author of the pleafing verfe ; 



OF TEMPER. lot 

«=s== ' sss=s==a 

Her lips involuntary catch the chime. 

And half articulate the Toothing rhyme. 

Till weary thought no longer watch can keep} 

But finks relu£bnt in the folds of fleep. 



END OF THE FOURTH CANTO* 



aoa THE T&IUMPHS 



CANTO V. 

VV HY art thou fled, O blcft poetic time! 
When Fancy wrought the miracles of rhyme ; 
When, darting from her ftar-encircled throne^ 
Her poet's eye commanded worlds unknown ; 
When, by her fiat made a mimic god. 
He £iw exiftence waiting on his nod. 
And at his pleafure into being brought 
New (hadowy hofts, the vaflals of his thought| 
In Joy's gay garb, in Terror's dread array, 
Darker than night, and brighter than the day ; 
Who at his bidding, thro' the wilds of air, 
Rais'd willing mortals far from earthly care. 
And led them wondering thro' his wide domain. 
Beyond the bounds of Nature's narrow reign ; 
While their rapt fpirits, in the various flight. 
Shook with fuccef&ve thrills of new delight ? 



6t temper. ltD3' 



Return, fweet feafon, grac'd with fiftion's flowers^ 
Let not cold fyftem cramp thy genial powers ! 
Shall mild Morality, in garb uncouth, 
The houfcwife garb of plain and homely Truth^ 
Robb'd by ftem Method of her rofy crown, 
Chill -her feint votaries by a wintry frown ? 
No.; thou fweet friend of man ! as fuits thee beft, 
Shine forth in Fable's rich cmbroider'd veft ! 
Oh make my verfe thy vehicle, thy arms. 
To fpread o'er focial life thy potent charms ! 
And thou, Sophrosyne, myflerious fprite ! 
If haply I may trace thy fteps aright, 
Koving thro* paths untrod by mortal feet, 
To paint for human eyes thy heavenly feat. 
Shed on my foul forae portion of that power, 
Which fiiv'd Serena in the trying hour. 
To bear thofe trials, which, however hard, 
As bards all tell us, may befall the bard ; 
The fop's pert jcft, the critic's frown fcvere. 
Learning's proud cant, with Fnvy's artful foeer, 



104 THE TAIUMPHS 

■■i^iiiiiwi II ■ ■■"'■ ■ I I ' < ^ 

Af^ tbe vext poet's lafb and word difgrace, 
His cold bUnk bookfeiler's rhyme-freezing face. 
Hence ! ye dark omens that to Spleen belong. 
Ye £ball not check the current of ray foog. 
While Beauty's lovely race, for whom I fing. 
Fire my warm hand to flrike the ready ftring* 

As Quiet now her lighted mantle laid 
O'er the dill fenies of the deeping maid^ 
Her nightly vifita^t, her faithful guide, 
Defcends in all her empyrean pride ; 
That fury diape no more die deigns to wear, 
Whofe light foot fhioolhs the furrow plough'd by cait 
In mortal faces, while her tiny fpear 
Gives a kind tingle to the caution'd ear» 
Now, in hcf nobler diape, of heavei^ 6ze» 
She drikes ker votary's foul with new furpriie. 
Jove's favourite daughter, arm'd with all his powersi 
Appear'd left brilliant to th' attending Hoiirs^ 
When, on the golden car of Juno rais'd. 
In heavenly pomp the queen of battles bla^'d : 



Ot ¥£l«Pllt. 105 



With all her lullre, but without the dread 
Which from her arm the frowning gOrgoA (ked, 
Sop»itosYN£ defcends with guardian lov^, 
To waft her gentle ward to worlds aboVe4 
From her fair brow a radiant diadem 
Rofe in twelve ftars, and every feparate gem 
Shot magic rays, of virtue to cotitrol 
Some pafllon hoflile to the human foul. 
Round her fweet form a robe of *ther floWd, 
And in a wonderous car the fmiling Spirit ft>de ; 
Firm as pure ivory, it ch^rm'd the fight 
With finer pblifh and a ibfter while. 
The hand of Beauty, with an eafy (Well, 
Scoop'd the free concave like a bending (hell ; 
And on its rich exterior, Art difplay'd ' 
The triumphs of the Power the CAT tonveyd* 
Here, in celeftial tints, furpafling life, 
Sat lovely G«ntlene(s dimming Strife ; 
There, young Aflefiion, born of fender Thought, 
In rofy chains the fiercer paffions caught \ 



106 THS TR1UM^HS 

Ambition, with hb fccptre fnapt in twain, 
And Avarice, fcoming what his chefls contain. 
Round the tame vulture flics the fearlefs dove ; 
Soft Innocence embraces playful Love ; 
And laughing Sport, the frolic child of Air, 
Buries in flowers the finking form of Care. 

Thefe figures, pencil 'd with a touch fo light, 
That every image feem'd an heavenly fprite, 
Breathe on the car ; whofe fight-enchanting frame 
Four wheels fuftain, of pale and purple flame ; 
For no fleet animals, to earth unknown. 
Bear thro* aetherial fields this flying throne. 
As by the fubtle ele£):rician's flcill, 
Globes feem to fly obedient to his will, 
. So thefe four circles of infl:inftive fire 
Move by the impulfe of their queen's defire. 
Mount or defcend by her dire£ling care, 
Or reft, fupported by the buoyant air. 

Now, fpringing from her car, that hovering ftaid 
High in the chamber of the fleeping maid, 



6f temper. toj 



The goddefs,. with a voice divinely clear, 

Breath'd thdfe kind accents in her votary's ear :— 

<* Come,' my fair champion ! who fo well haft fought 

The ufefiil battles of contentious thought ; 

To aid thy gentle fpirit to fuftain 

The final conflift of thy deftin'd pain, 

View the rewards that, in my realms of blifs. 

Wait the (weet vi£bor in fuch war as this ! 

So haply may thy mind, with ftrength rencw'd, 

The dark devices of the fiend elude ; 

By one bleft effort feal thy triumphs paft. 

And gain thy promised guerdon in the laft/* 

As thus fhe fpake, her heavenly arms embrac'd, 
And in the car the confcious maiden placed. 
Quick at her wifli the flaming wheels afcend, 
No clouds impede them wherefoe'er they bend. 
As thro* the empire of the winds they rufh'd, 
The winds were all in mute fubmiflion hu(h*d ; 
And now Sekena, from th' exalted car, 
Look'd down, aftonifh'd| on each finking ftar; 



loS THI TftlUMPHi 

Flying o'er lucid oiIm, whofe diftant light 
Yet hat not reach'd the fcope of human fight ( 
And now, not diftant from the bounds of fpace, 
The guardian fprite fufpends their rapid race ; 
And| while in deep amaze the nymph admires 
The circling meteors' inofienfive fires, 
Pleas'd at her wonder, the mild Power addx«$|h- / 
With kind intelligence, her earthly gucft :— 
** Of thofe three orbs, that in yon cryftal fpbere 
A feparate fyftem in themfelves appear. 
The laft, whofe luminous and fteady form 
Shines (bftly bright and moderately warn, 
Contains my palace, and the gentle train 
Whom I have wafted to this pure domain* 
At equal diftance my dominions lie 
From thefb two larger worlds, more near thine eye : 
Ob&rye their diflerence as our wheels advance, 
And pafling, take of each a tranfient glance**' 

So fpeaking, to the groffer globe (he fprung. 
Her car fufpended o'er its fur&ce hung, 



or TIMVER. 109 



In heavy air ; for round this orb was roll'd 

A circling vapour, dull, and damp, and cold. 

" Here,** fays Sophrostne, *♦ thofe beings dwell, 

Who wanted foul to aft or ill or well ; 

Who faunter'd thoughtlefs thro' their mortal timey 

Without a care, a virtue, or a crime ; 

Here flill they faunter in this languid fcene : 

But pals the dozing crowd, and mark their queen." 

And now, Aow-riding on a tortoife* back, 

Her features lifeleis, and each fibre flack, 

Full in their view the nymph Indifference came ; 

The quick Sxrema foon perceiv'd her name ; 

For, as in folemn creeping (late fhe rode, 

In her lax hand fhe held fair Greville's ode. 

Ne'et did the Mufc from her fweet treafure cull 

Incenfe fo precious for a Power fo dull. 

Still, as fhe mov'd along her even way, 

The heavy goddefs tried to read the lay; 

But at each paufle her inattentive eye 

Strayed from the paper, which fhe held awry ; 



no TBI T&IUMPBf 



Nor could her lips a (ingie line repeat, 
Tho' the foft verfe, moft ravifhingly fweet, 
Thro* Time's juft ear will lading pleafure fpreadi 
And charm the poppy from Oblivion's head* 
Thus, like a city mayor, whofe heavy barge 
Steers its dull progrels at the public charge, 
This Power, fo cumbered by her empire's vceight^ 
Makes her (low circuit round her fluggifh ftate* 
Around her tribes of rambling fceptics crawl, 
Tho* moving, dubious if they move at all* 
Before her, languid Pomp, her marihal, creeps, 
Whofe hand her banner half unfolded keeps, 
Its quaint device her dull dominion fpoke — 
An eagle, numb'd by the torpedo's ftroke. 

" Encmgh of fcenes fo foreign to thy foul,'* 
SoPHRosYNE exclaim'd ; « from this dark goal 
Pafs we to regions oppofite to this." 
She fpoke ; and, darting o'er the wide abyfe, 
Her car, like lightning in quick flafhes hurl'd^ 
Shot to the confines of a clearer world. 



OP TEMPER. Ill 



Now lovelier views the virgin's mind abibrb ; 

For now they hover'd o'er a lucid orb. 

Here the foft air, luxuriantly warm, 

Imparts new luftre to Serena's form : 

Her eyes with more expreflive radiance fpeak, 

And richer rofes open on her cheek. 

Here as fhe gaz'd, fhe felt in every vein 

A blended thrill of pleafure and of pain ; 

Yet every objeft glittering in her view, 

Her quick regard with fweet attradion drew. 

Soph ROSY NE, who (aw the gentle fair 

Lean o'er thefe confines with peculiar care, 

Smil'd at the tender intereft fhe difplay'^d. 

And fpoke regardful of the penfive maid : 

" Well may'ft thou bend o'er this congenial fphere ; 

For Seniibility is fovereign here. 

lliou feed her tiTun of fprightly damfels fport, 

Where the foft fpirit holds her rural court ; 

But fix thine eye attentive to the plain, 

And mark the varying wonden of her reign." 



lift THE TRX0MPH8 



As thus flie rpoke, ihe poisM her airy feat 

High o'er a plain exhaling every fweet ; 

For round its precin6b all the flowers that bloDin 

Fill'd the delicious air with rich perfiiitae ; 

And in the midft a verdant throne appear'ds 

In fimplefl: form by graceful fancy rear'd. 

And deck'd with flowers ; not fuch whoft fliaaii(iti{ 

dyes 
Strike with the flrongefl tint our dazclcd eyu ) 
But thofe wild herbs that tendered fibrts beafj 
And fhun th' approaches of a damper air. 
Here flood the lovely ruler of the fcene, 
And beauty, more than pomp, announc'd tht queen, 
The bending &ow*drop, and the briar-rofe, 
The iimple circle of her crown compofe ; 
Rofes of every hue her robe adorn, 
Except th' infipid rofe without a thorn. 
Thro' her thin veft her heighten'd beauties fhine ; 
For earthly gauze was never half fo fine. 
Of that enchanting age her figure feems, 
When fmiling nature with the vital beams 




J/.^/.^. 



Ti^iUiud 0ftktJ^ ditrtif fy T t'mJtU. Jtnmd, Fthfr^ajSS. 



OP TEMPIK. 113 

■ 1 1 wi — I I- i i inri aaagBBaagB^gai 



Of vivid youth, and pleafure's purple flame, 
Gilds ber accomplifh'd work the female frame^ 
With rich luxuriance tender, fweetly wild, 
And juft between the woman and the child. 
Her faur left arm around a vafe {he flings, 
From which the tender plant mimofa fprings : 
Towards its leaves, o'er which (he fondly bends^ 
The youthful fair her vacant hand extends 
With gentle motion, anxious to furvey 
How lar the feeling fibres own her fway ; 
The leaves, as confcious of their c^ueen's command, 
Succeflive fall at her approaching hand ! 
Hi r tender breaft with pity feems to pant. 
And fbrinks at every (hrtnking of the plant. 

Around their fovereign, on the verdant ground. 
Sweet airy forms in myilic meafures bound. 
The mighty mailer of the revel. Love, 
In notes more Toothing than his mother's dove, 
Prompts the foft ftrain that melting virgins iing, 
Or fportive trips around the frolic ring, 



114 TKB TRIUMPHS 



Coupling, with radiant wreaths of lambent fire, 
Fai^ fluttering Hope, and rapturous Defire. 
Unnumber'd damfels different charms difplay^ 
Penfive with blifs, or in their pleafures gay ; 
And the wide profpeft yields one touching fight 
Of tender, yet diverfified ddight. 
But, the bright triumphs of their joy to cheeky 
In the clear air there hangs a dufky fpeck ; 
It fwells — it fpreads — and rapid, as it grows,. 
O'er the gay fcene a chilling fhadow throws^ 
The fond Serena, who beheld its flight) 
Sufpe^ no evil from a cloud fo light ; 
For harmlefs round her the thin vapours wreath^ . 
Not hiding from her view the fcene beneath ; 
JBlut, ah ! too foon, with pity's tender pain^ 
She faw its dire cSt& o'er all the plain : 
Sudden from thence the founds of anguifli flow. 
And joy's fweet carols end in flirieks of woe : 
Th^e wither'd flowers are fall'n that bloom'd fo fair, 
And poifoo all the pefUlential air. 



OP TEMPER. 11^ 



From, the rent earth dark demons force their vny^ ' 
And make the fportive revellers their prey* 
Here gloomy Terror, with a (hadowy rope» 
Seems, like a Turkifh mute, to ftrangle Hope 3 
There jealous Fury drowns in blood the fire 
That fparkled in the eye of young Defire ; 
And lilelefs Love lets mercilefs Defpair 
From his crufh'd frame his bleeding pinions tear» 
But pangs more cruel, more intenfely keen, 
Wound and diflraft their fympathetic queen : 
With fruitlefs tears ftie o'er their mifery bends ; 
From her fweet brow the thorny rofe (he rends, 
And^T bov^d by grief's infufferable weight, 
Frantic fhe curfes her immortal flate : 
The griev'd Serena, as this curfe ihe hears, 
Feel« her bright eye fuffus'd with kindred tears ; 
And her kind breaft, where quick compaflion fwell'd, 
Shar'd in each bitter fuflfering fhe beheld. 

The guardian Power furvey'd her lovely grief. 
And fpoke in gentle terms of mild relief : 



Il6 THS TRIUMFaS 

^ ^ ' -^ 

« Fcr tlus (oft trflie thy hemA iar difiouisy 
And know their pains are tnnfient as thdr Ui£( : 
Rapture and Agony, in Nature's \aam^ 
Hare Ibrm'd the changing tiflue of thdr docm ; 
Both ialcrwoiren with Co nice an art. 
No power can tear the twified threads apart : 
Yet happier thefe, to Nature's heart more dear. 
Than the dull o&pring in the torpid fphexe. 
Where her wann wilhesy and aSeftions kind, 
Lofe their hright current in the ftagnant mind. 
Here grief and joy ib fuddenly unite. 
That anguilh ferves to fiiblimate delight*" 

She fpoke ; and, ere Se&kka could rep]y» 
The vapour vaniih*d from the hidd fky ; 
The n3rmphs revive, the {hadowy fiends are fledf 
The new.horn flowers a Richer fragraucc ihed ; 
The gentle ruler of the changeful land. 
Smiling, reium'd her fymhol of c<Mnmand ; 
Replac'd the roles of her reg4 wreath. 
Still trembling at the thorns that lurk beneatk: 



or TBMfER. 117 

«— ■H Bii.'in I I I'! ssasfssasassm 

But to her wounded fubjeds quick to p«y 

The tender duties of imperial fWay^ 

Their wants flic fuccour'd, they her wi(h ohey^d^ 

And all recovered by alternate aid ; 

While, on the lovely fucen's enchanting hcBf 

Departed forrow^s faint and £un€er trace 

Gave to each touching charm a tnore attraftive 

grace* 

Now, laughing Sporty from the enlightened plainy 
Clear 'd with quick foot the veftiges of pain ; 
The gay fcenc grows more beautifully bright, 
Than when it fhrft allur'd Serena's fight ; 
Still her fond eyes o*er all the ptx^peft range, 
Flaihing fweet pkafure at the btifsfiil change : 
Her curious thoughts with fond attachment bum^^ 
Yet more of this engaging land to learn. 
She finds the cfaief attendants of the queen, 
Sweet females, wa£tcd from our human fcene; 
But, as it chanc'd, while all the realm seviv'd| 
A fpirit mafculine from earth arrived : 



l8 THE TRIUMP»S 



Two airy guides condud: the gentle fhade ; 

Genius, in robes of braided flames array 'd, 

^d a fantaflic nymph, in manners nice, 

Profufely deck'd with many an odd device ; 

Sifter of him, whofe luminous attire 

Flafhes with unextinguifhable fire ; 

Like him in features, in her looks as wild, 

And Singularity by mortals ftyl'd. 

The eager queen, and all her (iniling courts 

Surround the welcome {hade in gentle fport ; 

For in their new aflbciate all rejoice, 

All pant to hear the accents of his voice. 

Tho* o'er his frame th* Armenian robe was flung, 

The pleafing ilranger fpoke the Gallic tongue ; 

But in that language his enchanting art 

Infpir'd newjcnergy, that feiz'd the heart ; 

In terms fo eloquent, fo fweetly bold, 

A ftory of dilaftrous love he told, 

Convuls'd with fympathy, the lifl'ning train, 

At every paufe, with dear delicious pain, 

Intrcat him to renew the fafcinating drain. 



;rain, ^ 



OP TAMPER. 119 

And now, Serena, with fufpend^d breath, 
Liften'd, and caught the tale of Julia's death ; 
And quick ihe cries, ere tears had time to flow^ 
<< Bkft be this hour ! for now I fee Rou{reau«'* 
Fondly fhe gaz'd, till the enchanting found 
In fuch a potent fpell her fpirit bound, 
That, loft in fweet illufion, fhe forgot 
The promis'd fcenes of the fublimer fpot ; 
Till now her mild remembrancer, whofe care 
Stray'd not a moment from the mortal fair, 
Rous'd her rapt mind, preparing her to meet 
The brighter wonders of her blifsfiil^ feat ; 
While her inftin£Hve car's obedient frame 
Now upward rofe, like undulating flame. 

As when fome vif^r on the watery world, 
Bright honour gilding all his fails unfiirl'd, 
Steers into port, while to the laughing (ky 
His ftreamers tell his triumph as they fly ; 
£xpe£ling thoufands line the crowded ftrand, 
Swell the glad voicci or wave the joyous hand, 



no T»K TATVMPK'S 



Prefling to viev the fight their ¥ow$ implor'dy 

And hail their glory and their ftrengtb reftor'd; 

So the bleft beings of this finiling fcene 

Flock*d rotmd the car of their retomii^ ^eeiw 

The racyant car, from which^ they now alight,^ 

Careful fhe gives to a felefted fprite, 

A nymph of fnowy vef^ and lonely framcy 

Fidelity her fur aad %otklk name ; 

Then, happy to review her hallow:^ faome^ 

Leads her fweet goeft to: facr celcftiai dome. 

Gentieft of powers ! for every purpofe fit^ 
To flreng^hen wi£joia, and embeUifli wk;i--f 
Thou, whc^ mild arts^ pcfib&M fay tbcc abme. 
Can give to Virtue's voioc zfiiieetertane; 
Allay the frofb of age, or &« of ycnith^ 
And lend attni£tion to feveieft truth ; 
Improve e'en Beauty by thy grace^l eafe. 
Or teach Deformity herfelf to pleafe ;*— 
Infpire the bard, whofe juft ambkion pants 
To guide weak mortals to thy heavenly haunts I 



OF TXMTBI.* 121 

Grant him, in notes that, like thy (6ft coaitrol, 
Allure attention, and pofle& the foul ; 
Grant him to ihew, in luminous diiplay, 
The myftic wonders of thy iecret fwzy ! 

Now, at the fight of the prefiding p<»v>er, 
Wide fpread the gates of a ftapendx>us tower. 
On whde firm height, commanding Naftun**s bound, 
The fiaothful waider of the fort they found, 
WakeAil Intelligence, a tru&y ^rite, 
Whofe eyes are piercing is the fohr light. 
And rrer on the watch to ^xind alarm. 
If aught of duflcy hue, portending harm^ 
Should, in defiance of her nmndate, dare 
Approach the palace of th' imperial &ir. 
Within his waid, magniBcently great, 
Lies the rich armoury that guaida hd* Aite. 
Here ftands Convi£tion's ^ftrong and liicid fpear, 
Whofe touch annihilates (iifpenfe Mad fear ; 
Here, Truth's ufuUied adamantine ihield, 
Which, &ve SorjKiosTMX, vp powder can wi^d ; 



122 TJTE TRIUMPHS 

f— I ' =s=a^ I ' ll 

And Reafon's trenchant blade of blazing fleel,. 
Its edge and polifti form'd by friendly zeal ; 
And, not leis fure their deflin'd mark to hit. 
Pointed by Virtue's hand, the fhafts of Wit ; 
And Ridicule's (Irong bolt, whole dunning blo^ 
Lays towering Vice and fearlcfs Folly low. 
Here too the goddefs kept, in myflic ftate, 
Thofe fweet rewards that on her champions wait 
Guerdons more precious than triumphant palms 
The glance of Gratitude for mental alms. 
The kifs of Peace, and Reconcilement's tear. 
And finilcs of Sympathy, are treafur'd here* 

Thefe precin6ls paft, now hand in hand they 
To the rich fabric of majeftic frame ; 
Inftinft with joy their fovereign to behold, 
The gates of maflive adamant unfold ; 
And, as the gently-moving valves unclofe, 
Myilerious mufic from their HKition flows,; 
The airy notes thro' all the palace roam, 
And dulcet echoes fill the feftive dome ; 



OF TEMPER. 125 



A gorgeous hall amaz'd Serena's eyes, 

Compar'd to which, in fplendor, ftrength, and fue. 

The nobleft works of which Tradition fmgs. 

Judaic fhrine, or leat of Memphian kings, 

Would feem more humble than the waxen cell 

In which the fkilfiil bee is proud to dwell. 

Here fits a Power, in whofe angelic face 

Beauty is fweeten'd by maternal grace ; 

Her radiant feat, furpaffing mortal art. 

Supports an emblem of her liberal heart, 

A pelican, who reara her callow broody 

And from her vitals feems todraw their food. 

Around this fpirit flock a filial hoft,^ 

Who blefs her empire, and her guidance boafl. 

Here every fcience,^ all the arts attend. 

In her they hail their parent and ther^ friend ; 

Each to her prefcnce brings the happy few, 

Whofe deareft glory from her favour grew. 

Here, in her fimple charms, with youthful fire, 

Proud to difplay the magic of her lyre, 



ia4 'fUB tbioWpbs 

Soul-foothi^g Harmony prdents her band : 
Befide her Orpheus tnd Amphkm ftand. 
Here, mild Philofophy, whofe chougfacfnl frown 
Is fweetly fluded by her olive crown^ 
(In til her Attic degsikce irray'd» 
Strong to convince, and gentle to perfuade) 
To her, whofe hitath infpirVi his every nde^ 
Leads the bkft fin of the Socratic fchooL 
Each animating bard and moral &ge» 
The heaven-taught minds of every clinw and agi 
Who foften'd manners, and refin'd the foul. 
Flock to this prefence, as to glory's goal ; 
And, as the motl^r's heart, that yearns to ble& 
The rival innocents that round her preis. 
Delights to fee them, as her love they (hare. 
Sport in her fight, and flouriih by her care ; 
Fondly r ef p on fi ve to their every call, 
Tender of each, and provident for all : 
So this fweet image of celeHial grace. 
Who fits encircled by her lovely race. 



e# TiMPSft* 125 

To every fcience vitai ftrenigth impftitSi 
And rea» the cirde oi iiie ibcial »t£ ; 
Wjkh Aich fclickude iKe gives to etch 
Powers of fiibiimer aim tnd wider reach* 
And now SopuROSYNfi, who near* her preft. 
Thus fpoke her title to her earthly gueft;— 
<< Behold the honoured IbriD, without whoreai4 
My ftrength nauft vaeifli^ and my glory £ade ! 
Source of my bei^gi and my life's fiipport ! 
EuNOiA call'4 ia this cekftiai court, 
BenevOlekcb the name (he bears on earthi 
The guard of weaknei% and the friend of worth. ^ 

She ended : and the mild maternal form 
Embraced Ssabn a with a (mile as warm 
As the gay fpirit Vegetation wears. 
When fhe to crown her fevourite nymph prepares, 
When, pleas'd her flowery treafures to difplay, 
She pours tl^m ia the lap of youthful May^ 

But how, SsABNA ! how may human fpeech 
Thy heaveoly x^mts ia thai aK»ient reach ? 



126 TRt TKlVUWHt 

If aught of earthly ientiment may vie 

With the pure joy thefe happy fcenes fupply, 

'Tis when, unmixt with trouble and with pain. 

Love glides in fecret thro' the glowing vein ; 

When ibme fond youth, unconlcious of its fire. 

Free from chill fear and turbulent defire. 

With every thought abforbM in fofit delight. 

Sees -all creation in his far-one's (ight. 

And feels a blifsful ftate without a name, 

Repoie of foul with harmony of frame* 

So, plung'd in pleafure of the pureft kind, 

Serena gaz'd on the maternal mind ; 

Gaz'd till Sophrosyne's direfbing aid 

Thus fummon'd ta new fights th*^ obedient maid :<>-• 

<< Halle, my hit charge, for of this ample (late, 

Tfafts yet unfeen thy vifitation wait. 

The prefling hours forbid me to unsold 

Each ieparate province which thefe confines hold> 

But I will lead thee to that blifcful crew^ 

Whofe kindred fpirits beft defervc thy vicw.^^ 



OP TEMPER. 127 



So fpeaking, her attentive gueft (he led 
Thro* fcenes, that ftill increafing wonder bred. 
Where'er flie trod, thro' all her gorgeous feat, 
Soft mufic echoed from beneath her feet : 
Pafling a portal, on whofe lucid ftone 
Emblems of innocence and beauty fhone, 
They reach a lawn with verdant luftre bright. 
And view the bowers of permanent delight. 
No fiery fun here forms a fcorching noon, 
No baleful meteor gleams, no chilling moon ; 
But, from a latent fource, one (bothing light, 
Whofe conftant rays repel the mift of night, 
Tho* tender, cheerful, and tho* warm, ferene^. 
Gives lafting beauty to the lovely fcene. 
No fenfual thought this paradife profanes ; 
For here tried Excellence in triumph reignJ, 
Benignant cares eternal joy fupply. 
And blifs angelic beams in every eye. 

<* In yonder groups," the leading fpirit cried^ 
<« My fav'ritc females fee, my faireft prid^• 



til THt TftitiMrat 

The firft in rank is that fUfti^guifii'd train, 
Wbofe ftrength of foul was tried by Hymen's chain : 
Tho' beauty bleft their form, and love, their fuids. 
Their nuptid band with happieft omens tied. 
Beauty and love, they felt, may left the art 
To fix inconftant man's eccentric heart ; 
Yet, cof^dous of their lord's ncfkfted vow^ 
No virtue frown'd outrageous on their brow, 
To keep returning tendemeft dk)o4 
By coarfe upbraiding, and de^is'd rq>rotf : 
With (aaww £nothcr'd in atUBfiion^s iiaiki 
They Aarove the fenfe of mifery to befuile ; 
And, from wild paffion's perilous •abyii^ 
Lure the loft wanderer back to fiothlul bliik* 
See mild OSavia o'er this band pre&de. 
Voluptuous Antony's negloGbsd faride^ 
Whole feeling heurt, with all a mother's cafe, 
Rear'd the young ofispring of a rival 6ir. 
Far other trials nds'd yon lovely preWj 
Tho* in connubial fceaes their merit grew : 



OP TBMPER. Sf9 



It was their chance, ere judgment was mature^ 
When glittering toys the infant mind aUore, 
Following their pacents" avaricious rule. 
To wed) with hopes of bli&, a wealthy fool. 
When time removed DeLufton's veil by fteakhy 
And fhow'd the drear vacuity of wealth ; 
When &d experience prov'd the bitter fate 
Of beauty coupkd to » fenfiekft mutoe : 
Thefe gentle wives ftill gloried to iubmit ; 
Thefe^ tho' invited by aUuring wk^ 
Refused in paidui of liavdefr joy to range^ 
Nor murmur'dat the lot they cotdd not change : 
But, with a live^ bi$eetae&y nnoppreft 
By a. dull hnftandf a knentalde jeft. 
Their conftast rays of gay good>huinoas fpread 
A guardian g^ory sound their ideot'& head»^ 
The next in order are tfaofe lovdy fbrm^ 
Whofe patience vecatbec*d all paternal ftooM ^ 
By filial cares, the adnd^ unMing teft, 
Well have tbey eaam*d: AA feats o£ UiObl left t 



130 THE TRIUMPHS 

eaaaMsaaii i i ^-gg— --- , ■ in-inr i 

They, unrepining at fevere refhaint, 

Peeviih commands, and undeierv'd complaint; 

Bent with unwearied kindnefs to appeafe 

Each fancied want of querulous difeafe ; 

Gave up thofe joys which youthful hearts engage, 

To watch the weaknefs of parental age.* 

Turn to this cheerful band ; and mark in this, 
Spirits who jufUy claim my realms of bliis ! 
Mod lovely thefe! when judg'd by generous truth, 
Tho' beauty is not their's, nor blooming youth : 
For thefe are they, who, in life's thmny fhade^ 
Repin'd not at the name of ancient maid. 
No proud difdain, no narrowne& of heart. 
Held them from Hymen's tempting rites apart ; 
But fair Difcretion led them to withdraw 
From the priz'd honour of his profier'd law ; 
To quit the objed of no haily choice, 
In mild fubmiffion to a parent's voice ; 
The valued lover with a figh refign. 
And iacrifice delight at Duty's fhrine. 



OP TEMPER. 131 

gsaagggaga 



With fmiles they bore, from angry fpleeil exempt^ 

Injurious mockery, and coarfe contempt : 

'Twas theirs to clafp, each fclfifti care abovei 

A (ider's orphans with parental love. 

And all her tender offices fupply, 

Tho' bound not by the ftrong maternal tie : 

'Twas theirs to bid inteftine quarrels ceafe, 

And form the cement of domeftic peace. 

No throbbing joy their fpotleis bofom fir'd, 

Save what Benevolence herfclf infpir'd ; 

No praife they fought, except that praifc rcfin'd. 

Which the heart whifpcrs to the worthy mind. 

Such are thefe gentle tribes, the happy few 
Who lh»e the triumph to their viftory due : 
Angelic aims their fpotlcfc minds employ, 
And ^11 their meafure of unchequer'd joy. 
Behold ! where fome with generous ardor wait 
Around yon feer, who holds the book ofhtt ; 
Thofe awful leaves with eager glance they turn, 
Thence with cclcftial zeal they fondly Icaro 



%^2 THX TRrtJMPHS 



What dangers threatcit^ thro^ the vale of earthy 

Their kindred pilgrimsy ere they rife to birth : 

To earth they ftill invififaly defcend^ 

In that dark £cene congenial minds defend^ 

From pleafure's bud drive ipleen*s corrodmg woroy 

And in my votaries' heart my power confirm. 

Delights more caha yon tiflemng band employ, 
Who deeply drink of intelleftual joy. 
See them sffoond that fpeaking nymph rejoice. 
Their plealuves varying with her varied voice f 
What graces in the fweet enthufiaft glow I 
Repeating here whatever ihe learns below^ 
Memory her name, her charge o'er earth to flit. 
And cull the faireft flowers of human "wit. 
Whatever Genius^ in his happieft hour. 
Has penn'd^ of moml force and comic power,^ 
To waom the heart, the fpells of Spleen uiibind, 
And pour gay &infbine o*cr the mifty mind i 
Teach men to eherifii ihax fraternal tie^ 
And view kind naelurc with a filial eye ; 



or tEMPER. ^J3 

BssssaBa 

This active fpirit catches in her flighty 
Skilled to retain^ and happy to recite* 
Here (he delivers each bright vforitj and each 
Gains new attraftion from her graceful fpeech. 
Warpt by no envy, by no love mifled, 
Equal (he hdds the living and the dead-; 
Alike reheiurfing, as they claim their turh^ 
The fong of Aftftey and the tale of Sterna. 
Here Truth in Honour's feat a bard enthrones, 
Who caught from Nature all her Hneft tones ^ 
Her favorite bard 1 to decorate whofe lyre 
Talents of wide diverfity confpire : 
Who blends, (enchanting friend of tvtty hour!) 
Humour's light grace with Fancy's lofty power : 
freedom and fanfUiy, in union fweet, 
The talk of Cowper (their own talk !) repeat, 
To match whofe beauties (all to virtue dear!) 
Verfe-proud Antiquity prefents no peer. 

But morning calls thee hence.— Yet one fcene mdf e, 
My foftcring love Ihall lead thee to explore. 



134 TH& TRXTJMPHC 



This, thy lafl fight, with careful eyes furvcy. 
And mark th' extenftve nature of my fway«*' 

Thus with fond zeal the guardian fpirit laid. 
And to new precind^ of her palace led; 
The fcene fhe enter'd of her rkheft ilate. 
Where on her voice the fubjeft pa(fiens wait : 
Here rofe a throne of living gems fo bright 
No breath could fully their benignant light ; 
This, her immortal ieat, the gracious guide 
AfTuio'd : her ward ftood wondering at her (idCi 
Swift as they felt their ruling Power enthron'df 
iEtherial beings, who her empire own'd^ 
Crowded in glittering pomp the gorgeous fcene^ 
To pay their homage to tl>eir heavenly queen* 

Firft came chafte Love, whofe fweet harmoniout 
form 
Ne'er felt fufpicion's foul-convulfing ftoqa^ 
No baleful arrow in his quiver lies, 
No blinding veil inwraps his (psffkling eyes ; 



OP TEMPER* 135 



There all the rays of varied joy unite. 
And jointly (hed unfpeakable delight. 
With him was Friendfhip, like a virgin dreft^ 
The foft afbeftos form'd her (imple veft, 
Whofe wond'rous folds, in fierceft flames entire^ 
Mock the vain ravage of confuming fire : 
Around this robe, a myilic chain (he wore. 
Each golden link a ftar of diamonds bore ; 
Force could not tear the finifh'd work apart^ 
Nor int'reft Joofe it by his fubtlcft art ; 
But, flrange to tell, if the prefiding Power, 
Who to her favourite gave this precious dower^ 
If kind SoFHROSYN£ could fail to breathe 
Her vital virtue 4m this magic wreath, 
.The parts muft fever, feithlefs to their truft. 
The gold grow drofs, and every diamond duft« 
Thefe V^our followed, deck'd with verdant palm, 
Gracefully bold, majeftically calm. 
A mingled trpop fucceed, with feftive found, 
Wifdom Viitk olive, Wit with feathers crown'd ; 



136 THR TmUBTPHS 



Here, hand in hand they move, no longer foes, 
Their charms increafing as their union grows; 
Pure ipirits all, who bating mental (Irifpy 
Exalt creation, and embelliih life ; 
All here attend, and, in their fovexeign's praife. 
Their cirding forms the ibng of glory nixie^ 

The bleft Ssrena drinks, with ravifh'd ear, 
The melting ttufic of the tuneful Q>here, 
Now in its clofe the (bothing echoes roll 
O'er her rapt &ncy, and intrance her foul; 
Her fenies iink in foft obUvion's bands. 
Till faithful Jenny at her pillow ffamds. 
Recalls each mental and corporeal power. 
While fhe proclaims aloud the puffing hour ; 
And, in a voice expreffive of furprife, 
Too (brill to iecm the mufic of the fkies. 
Informs the ftartlcd fair 'tis time to nfe» 
Gay as Aurora from her couch (be fpniRg^ 
Joy in her eyes and mufic on her tongiie* 
£MD or THs riFTH CMiro* 



OP TsvrcR. i^y 



CANTO VL 



ijLEST be the heart of fympathetic mould. 
Whatever form that gentle heart infold, 
Whofe generous fibres with fond terror ibake. 
When. keen affliflion threatens to overtake 
Young artlefs Beauty, as alarm'd fhe fbrays 
Thro' the {bange windings of this mortal maze ! 
To fuch, Sere MA, be thy ftory known, 
Whofe bofom bed can make thy lot their own, 
And, kindly iharing in thy trials paft. 
Attend with fweet anxiety the laft. 
The hour approaches, the tremendous hour. 
In whofe dark moments deeper perils lower ; 
Still fo inwrapt in Pleafure's gay difguiie. 
They lurk invifible to Caution's eyes ; 
And, unfufpe^d by the fair-one, w^t 
To cancel or confirm her bli&ful fate. 



S38 TBI TRIUMPBt 

^MBGSBSSSSSQSSSBSBBaBSSSSSSaaEBSSSSSSSasaBSSSSSSB: 

Her lively mind vrith bright ideas ftor'd, 
Slie takes her ftation at the break£sift.board : 
Still her rapt foul the heavenly vifion fills, 
And Tweeter graces in her (mile infills ; 
New hopes of triumph glide thro* every nerve, 
And arm her glowing heart with firm referve ; 
Confeious the final trying chance impends. 
To bear its force her every power (he bends ; 
In her quick thought ambitious to pre(age 
How Spleen's dark agents may exert their nge. 
She ponders on what perils may befiill, 
And fondly deems her mind a match for all* 
Ah, lovely nymph ! this dangerous pride forego ; 
Pride may betray— fecurity's thy foe. 

While fancied prudence thus, a foreign gueft. 
Sits doubly cherifh'd m Serena's breaft. 
Behold a billet her attention (leal. 
No common arms compofe its ample feal ; 
Th' unfolding paper breathes a rofeate fcent. 
Sweet harbinger of joy, its kind intent. 



eV TEMPER* 1^^ 



Of courteous Filligreb it bears the name^ 

Clear fymptom of the peer's increafing flame f 

The gracious earl, lamenting pleafure loft. 

And fair Serena in her wiifhes croft. 

Has plann'd, in honour of the lovely maid, 

A fancied ball, a private mafquerade, 

And fupplicates her fire, with warm efteem, 

To fmile indulgent on the feftive (cheme. 

All arts he ufes to infure the grant, 

Nor leaves unaflc'd the eager maiden aunt.^ 

Quick at the found S«RENA'is glovring heart . 

Throbs with gay hopes ; but foonthofe hopes depart: 

Refl^&ion, in her foul a faithful guard, 

The opening avenues of pleafure barr'd r 

She deem'd the plan of this delightful fhow, 

But the new ambufh of her fecret foe ; 

The blifs too bright to realize, fhe guefs'd. 

And chas'd th' idea from her guarded breaft. 

While thcfc difcreet refolves her thought employ. 

Tranquil fhe triumphs* o'er her finotiier*d joy.. 



f4Q T(» TKIVM^HS 



Not fo the ]uug]it**<-to his pmnUl ^oSf 
In daBzling pomp dtlufive vifions rik : 
That coroncty the objeft <>f hk tow» 
He fees fufpemkd o'er bi9 4taghta'9 htofw ; 
£ager he bDn» to fi:i^ the peiideat thxe^ 
And fix the glory oa his darliog's headL 
Far wiftr aims the ancisnt maiden o»igbt> 
No empty gew-gaw Suttsrc in her thought ; 
But, while more keenly (he applau<k the^hn^ 
Her hope is (olid and AibiUatiil mao} 
Not for her in&ot niece» whofe b«by fhms 
.She holds unfit for Hymen's holy flme; 
But for her riper felf, wbofe flrength may bear 

^The heavieft burden of connubial care. 

If 

Tho' different phantoms dance before their fight. 
Niece, aunt, and father, in one wilh unite, 
To join the banquet is their common choice, 
The bufineis paft with no di (Tenting voice ; 
And the warm fire in whom ambition burst'dy 
A note of grateful courtefy returned: 



OF TtMFBR* S4t 

WBtBoasaBsssssassssssasBssssm i i i iii i aBaBaaMMMB——— 

Hi3 billet feal'd, the glad good.bunoiir^il knight 

Launched forth, like Neftor, on his Touthlal mtgbt : 

^* Oh could I nawj in fpite of age, retatti 

That afUve vigour, and that fprightiy vtini 

Which ltd me once the lively laugh to nife 

Among the merrier wits of former days, 

When rival beauties would around me throng. 

And gay ridottos liften to my fong I 

Such were I now, as on the feftive night, 

When Ch-'^-'— h^s charms araas^d the public (ight i 

When the kind faiir-one, in a veil fo thin 

That the clear gauxe was but a lighter (kin, 

Mafk'd like a virgin juft prepared to die, 

Gave her plump beauties to each greedy eye ! 

On that ftim'd night (for then with frolic fire 

Youth fill'd my heart, and humour ftrung my ly*^, 

Pleas'd in the fun-lhine of her fmile to bafk, 

I danc'd around her in a devil's maflc ; 

And idly chanted, an infernal pde» 

In pndie of all this female tempter (how'd. 



14' TH7 TRIVMPH4 

gggggga ' ~ 



The jocund crowd, who throng'd with me to gaz6| 

ExtoU'd my unpremeditated lays. 

And Sport, who flill of thi» old vevel brag% 

* Styl'd her the firft of maids^ and me of wags^ 

iThen » light devil, now, reduo'd to limp, 

I am but fit to play the hag-bom imp>v 

Stilly not to crois the frolic of this ball. 

Still as the tortoife Caliban I'll crawl. 

And if with gout my burning ankles flinch, 

I'll call it Pro^ro's tormenting pinch ; 

Still in this fhape I'll {hew them what I am ; 

And Pin- fhall go as Sycorax my dam." 

So fpoke the knight ; and fpoke with fo mucb 
weight, 
TKe liftening females faw his word was fate ^ 
For ne'er did Jove with fo refolv'd a brow 
To fmiling Love his joyous fcheme avow,. 



See Neftor'i fpeech in the x i th UtadU 



OF TEMPBI* 143 

saaaaaaa 1 j 



When he concerted, for his fpecial miith> 

A mafquerading on the ftage of earth, 

And of the fwan's foft plume, or hull's rough haur. 

Order 'd the fancy-drcfe. he chofc to wear* 

From whence let £ipient antiquarians (how 

The ancient ufe of mafquerades below. 

Serena frail 'd to fee this joyous fire 

Infufe new youth in her determin'd fire ; 

But mute Penelofs, wrth half a figh, 

** With one aufpicious and one dropping eye,^ 

Heard the firm knight his fixt refolve impart. 

Tickling at once and torturing her heart. 

The ball (he relifh'd, but abhorr'd the ta(k 

To hide her beauties in a beldam's mafk : 

Miranda's name would better fuit her plan^ 

A fuirple maiden^ not afraid of man ;. 

But us'd» alas ! her brother's law tofeel^ 

She knows that law admits not of repeal* 

Trufting her charms will any garb enrich^ 

She deigns to take the habit of a witch« 



t44 ^B* TmitniFBt 

Never did ibrcere6 in the (hades of oiglit 
Try to illumixiite t filthy ^>rite 
With £Mider efforts^ or with woHe fuccels. 
Than Pe n. now labour'dy in this wtyvnrd dnXs^ 
To give the fprightly fliow of living truth 
To the poor ghoft of her depaxted youth. 
As witches o'er their magic cauldron bend. 
Anxious to fee their menial imps aCcend ; 
So'^in her glafs the ancient maiden pries, 
An& dreams new graces in her perfen rife* 
No fuch delights, whole dear delufiont pleafe. 
The mild Ssrena in her mirror fees; 
She, at whofe toilet beauty's latent queen 
Attends, enchanted with her filial mien. 
And o'er her favourite's unconfcious fact 
Breathes her own rofeate glow and vivid grace. 
She hades her glittering garments to adjuft. 
With all the modeft charms of iweet diftruft. 
Doubting that beauty, which (he doubts alone, 
Which dazzles every eye except her own* 



or TEMPER. 145 

The native diffidence which fwty'd her xnixid, 
Nows feels new terrors with its own combiii'd;< 
The robes of Arid to the nymph recall 
Thofe difappointmeats that may yet befall ; 
As her fair hands the ganze or tiffue toochf 
They fondly warn her not to hope too much* 
She feels the friendly counfel they impart. 
And caution rdgns protefior of her heart. 

The iatefiil evening come»^t^e coach attendsj^v' 
And firft the gouty Caliban aicends ; 
Then, in Deformity's well-fiiited pndei 
Sour Sycorax is fttfttion'd by his fide ; 
And lafty with %iortive imiks, divinely fwcct^ 
Light Ariel perches on the vacant feat* 
Fancy now paints the Icene of pleafure ncai^ : 
Yet fluttering gaiety is checked by fear* 
Her wilh to view the feftive fight rung high i- - 
But the fond nymph rtmcmbers with a figh| 
From Hope's keen hand tiie cup of Joy mttf flip/ 
And bii uiitafted» tko^ it roacb tbe Up. 



146 THE TRIUMTHr 

As the fine artift, whole nice toils afpire 
To. £une eternal by encauftic fire ; 
If he, with grief, hai (een the ^thleft heat 
Mar the rich labour it ihould make complete^ 
When next his hands, with trembling care, confide 
To the fierce element his pencil's prid^ 
Watches, jtnceafing the pernicious flame, 
Terror and hope contending in his frame. 
While his fair work the dangerous fire fuftains. 
Feels it in all his fympathetic veins. 
And at each trivial found that chance may caufe^ 
Hears the gem crack, and fees ivt cruel flaws: 
With fuch folicitude the panting maid 
Pail the long ftreet, of every noiie afraid. 
Now, while around her rival flambeaus flarCf 
And the coach rattles thro* the crowded (quarty 
She fears fome dire miiichance muft yet befall^ 
Some demon fnatch her from the promis'd ball t 
And dreams no trial more (evere than this^ 
So bright ihe figures the new fcene of bli& ^ . 






OF TEMPZR* 147 



Yet, horrid as it feems, her heart is bent 
To bear e'en this, and bear it with content. 

But, whirl'd at length within the porter's gat^ 
She thinks what perils at the baU may wait ; 
And, ts fhe now alights, the fluttering fair 
Invokes her guardian to protefi; her there. 
Till thoughts of danger, thoughts of caution, fly 
Before thennagic blaze that meets her eye. 
Th' advancing nymph, at every ftep fhe takes. 
Pants with amazement, doubtful if fhe wakes; 
Far as her eyes the glittering fcene command, 
'Tis all enchantment, all a fairy land ; 
No veftiges of modem pomp appear. 
No modern melody (alutes her ear : 
With Moorifh notes the echoing manfion rings. 
And its tranfinuted form to fancy bring* 
The rich * Alhambra of the Moorifh kings. 
The peer, who keenly thirfts for fafhion's praiie» 
To gild his revd with no common rays, 



] 



* Seethe vlewt «f this palace in Swinburae'iTkaveU. 



tfS THS TAIUMPRS 



SuxDmon'd his modifti archite^) whofe (kill 

Can all the wifliet of eaprke fulfil. 

Hji geiHttt) equal to the wildeft tafk^ 

Gave to the h<mfe kfelf a Gothic maflc. 

The chaplakiy that no gtteft might feel negleft) 

As a magician of the Arah feffl^ 

Wiv'd a preficling wand throughout the ball, 

And well provided for the wants of all. 

The peer himfelf, his prowefir to evince. 
Shines in the iemblance of a Moorifh prince ; 
And round the brilliant mimic hero wait ' 
All pomp andcircumdance of Mooriih ftate: 
Thro' all his fplendid dome no ejre could find 
Aught unembellifh'd, fcve the matter's mmd. 
There, tho* lepreft by courtefy's control, 
Lurks the kw mover of the little foul, 
Mean Vanity ; whofe flave can never prove 
The beart'-refining flame of genuine love. 
While her cold joys his abje6l mind amufe. 
His thoughts art bufied oa connubial views? 



OF T&Ml^Elt* 149 

fgstsssssaBsaBBsas ii i ■ i ■ ' i r n ' ' a^- 

His houie complete, its decorations plac'd 
By the fure hand of faihionabk Tafte, 
He only wants, to crown hb raodiih lifei 
That laft and fincft moveable—* wife. 
She too muft prove, to fix his coy defire. 
Such jas the eye of fafhion will admire. 
His ball is but a jury, to decide 
Upon the merit of his fancied bride. 
If fweet Sx&ENA, on this fignal night. 
Shines the firft idol of the public Eght ; 
If Gallantry's fixt eyes pronounce her fatir, 
By the fure iign of one uncea&ng flare ; 
And ify prophetic of her nobler doom, 
Each rival beauty fhudders at her bloom ; 
The dye is cad — ^he weds-— the point is clear 3 
She cannot (light the vows of fuch a peer. 
Thus argued in his mind the feftive earl, 
• And, left he lightly choofe an awkward girl, 
Wifely convened, on this important cafe. 
Each fafhionable judge of female grace. 



150 THE^TRIOMPHl 

WBaBsmastSBi^asBssssssaBssssss=^ss^asssssss^^sss=sssi 

Here beaux efprits in various figures lurk. 
Of Jew and Gentile, Bramin, Tartar, Turk ; 
But of the manly maiks, a youthful bard 
Seem'd moft to challenge beauty's ibft regard : 
Adom'd with native elegance, he wore 
In fimpleft form, the minftrel drefs of yore ^ 
They call him Edwik, who around him throng, 
Edwin, inraiortaliz'd in Beattie's (bng ; 
And, footh to (ky, ¥rithin a comely feune 
He bore a heart that anfwer'd to the name ; 
For this neat habit deck'd a generous youth. 
Of gentleft manners, and fincereft truth. 
Tho' on his birth propitious Fortune finil'd. 
No proud parental folly fpoil'd the child ; 
And Genius, more beneficently kind, 
Bleft with fuperior Wealth his manly mind. 
Of years he barely counted twenty-one ; 
But, like a brilliant mqpi, his opening life begun. 
Fain would the Mufe on this her votary dwells 
And fully paint the youth (he loves fo well ; 



OP TEMPER. f5( 



His figure's charms, the mu(ic of his tongue. 
What nymphs his lays allured, what lays he fungr 
But higher cares her rambling fong control ; 
Se REMAPS perils fummon all her foul ; 
For Spleen, ambitious to exert her force, 
Confcious this trial is her laft refource, 
Moft. keenly bent on her pernicious taflc, 
Has (hifted round the ball from mafk to maik, 
Watching the moment, with infernal care, 
To form with deepeft art her final fnare, 
And manacle the mind of the unguarded fair. 

It comes, the moment that mud fix her lot. 
By her, ah, thoughtlefe maid ! by her forgot ; 
Tho* the light Hours, e'en in their frolic ring, 
Trembling perceive the fearful chance they brings 
And, (huddering at the nymph's terrific ftatc, 
Seem anxious to fufpend her doubtful fate^ 

Now focial cafe the place of fport fupplied^ 
The hot oppreflive mafk was thrown afide. 
And beauty fhone reveal'd in all her blufhing pri4c 



A 



I 



15' YB' TRlVMFflS 

Supcfior ftill in featu re s as in form, 
Wkh admitatioo flufli'd, with pleafure warm. 
The gay Sekbna every eye aUur'd ; 
The hearts her figure won her &ce (ecur'd : 
A tender (weetneis ftill the nymph maintained. 
And Modefty o'er all her graces reign'd« 
Well might her foul to brilliant hopes incline, 
A thou&nd youths had call'd her charms divine $ 
A thouiand friends had whiiper'd in her ear. 
That htc had mark'd her for the Mdvc peer. 
Her youthful fancy, the' by pomp amus'd, 
Wifli'd not thole otkn which her heart refus'd : 
That tender heart, by no vain pride pofieft. 
With indecifi ve trembling fhook her bieaft. 
Like a young bird, that, fluttering in the air, 
Wifhcs to build her neft, yet knows not where. 

The bufy carl, his puny love to ndfe. 
Hunted the circling whifpcr of her praiie ; 
Heard Envy own her lovely channs, tho' loth. 
Heard Tafte atteft them with a modifh oath; 




f iiitai.TbliHnia S«ptf ifi;87>TT.CjuiriL.StnoLd. 



OF TIMFIR* 152 

And, nuptial projeds thickening in hb mind. 
Now his fair partner in the dance rejoin'd. 
As now the fprightly mufic paus'd, my loni 
Eager refolv'd to touch a firfter chofd 1 
Secure of all repulfe, he vainly meant 
Half, to difplay, half hide his food intent, 
And, in diifemhled paffion's flowery tropes. 
To fport at leiiiure with the virgin's hopes : 
For this he fram'd a motley fpeech, replete 
With amorous compliment and vain conceit* 
The bhour'd nothing with complacent pride 
He fpoke ; but to his fpeech no nymph replied : 
For in the moment, the loft fair devotes 
Her willing ear to more attraAive notes. 
The minftrel happened near the nymph to walk, 
Rapt vrith a bofom-fiiend in iecret ulk. 
And, at the inftant when the earl began 
Half to unfold his matrimonial plan, 
EowjN, in whifpers, from the crowd retir'd, 
Chanced to repeat the fonnet (he infpir'd : 



^54 '^^^ TRIUMFHi 

.ssaESSsaaBsaBsassssssai^ssassssa 



The founds, tho' faint, her recoUe&ion caught, 
Drew her quick eye, and fixt her wondering thought. 
Loft in this fweet furprife, (he could not hear 
A fingle accent of the amorous peer. 
Spleen faw the moment that (he fought to gain, 
And perch'd triumphant on the noble's brain» 
With jealous envy ftung, and baffled pride, 
" Contemptuous girl !" with fudden rage, he cried, 
** If here to happier youths thy views incline, 
Lwant not fairer nymphs who challenge mine* 
Thy breaft in vain with penitence may bum ; 
But, once negle£led, I no more return." 
Thus loudly fpeaking, with diftemper'd heat. 
Rudely he tum'd, with rancorous fcom replete. 
Serbna, ftartled at th' injurious found, 
Survey'd th' infulting peer, who ftcmly frown'd ; 
Shame and refentment thro' her bofom rufli. 
Swell every vein, and raife the burning bluflu 
Love, new-born love, but in its birth concesd'd. 
Nor to the nymph ierfelf as yet revcal'd, 



OF TEMPER. iSS. 

■ ■ J 

And juil difdain, and anger's honeft flame^ 
With complicated power convulfe her frame ; 
Contending palTions every thought confound. 
And in tumultuous doubt her foul is drown'd. 
Now treacherous pride, who tempts her tongue to trip. 
Forms to a keen reply her quivering lip : 
Iniidious Spleen now hovers o'er the fair. 
Deems her half lock'd within her hateful fnare ; 
In her new (lave preparing to rejoice, 
To taint her fpirit, and untune her voice. 
Haplefs Serena ! what can (ave thee now ? 
The fiend's dark fignet ftamps thy clouded brow, 
In thy fwoln eye I fee the ftarting drop ; 
This ht^l fhower, aetherial guardian ! flop : 
Hafte to thy votary^ hafte her foul ^ftain, 
Nor let the triah (he has paft be vain» 
Ah me ! while yet I fpeak, with fhuddering dirad 
I hear the magic girdle's burfting threads 
This horrid omen, ye kind powers ! avert : 
Nor thoU| bright zone ! thy brighter char^ defer^. 



i$6 THB TRIUIIVHS 



Ah, fruitk6 prayer ! her panting bread behold ! 

See r the gauze fhakes in many a ruffled fold ! 

ForcM from their ftation by her heaving heart, 

From the ftrain'd girdle thrice three fpangks ftart ; 

Thro' her diforder'd drefs a pafs they've found, 

And fallen, fee, they glitter on the ground !— 

O blelTed chance ! with life-recalling light 

The glittering monitors attraft her fight ! 

Like ilars emerging from the darkened pole. 

They fparkle lafcty to her harafs'd foul. 

See ! from her brow the clouds of trouble fly. 

Vexation's tear is vanilh'd from her eye ! 

Her rofy cheeks with Joy*s new radiance bum. 

Like nature finiling at the fun's return ; 

The nymph, no more with mental darknels blind^ 

Shines the fwect ruler of her refcu'd mind. 

Hence, hateful Spleen ! thy fancied prize refign. 

Renounce for ever what fhall ne'er be thine ; 

For, confcious of her airy guardian's aid. 

She feels new fpirit thro' her heart convey'4, " 



OP TEMPER* Ij7 

SBSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS I I ■— i— — 

And, inly blefling this vidorious hour, 

Her foul exults in its recover'd power* 

In fuch mild terms (he hails th' infulting peer^ 

As Spleen, if mortal, muii expire to hear % 

But, driven for ever from the lovely girl, 

The foul fiend riots in the captive earl. 

He anfwers not ; but, with a fullen air, 

On happier Edwin, who approach'd the £ur, 

Darts fuch a glance of rage and envious hate, 

As Satan caft on Eden's bli&ful ftate. 

When on our parents firft hci fixt his fight, 

And undelighted gaz'd on all delight ; 

So doom'd to look, and doom'd fuch pangs to iee!, 

Scornful he tum'd on his elafUc heel. 

*^ O lovely mildne& ! O angelic maid ! 
Deferving homage, tho' to fcom betray'd ; 
Rife flill, fwttt fpirit, rife thefe vnrongs above, 
Tura from injurious pride to faidifiil love ; 



\^9 THE T&lUMPJftl 

■BBga^gBaagaagss-ggssggg 



I 



Tho' on my brow no coronet may (hine. 

Wealth I can offer at thy beauty's (brine, 

Andf worthier thee, a heart that worfhips thine**' ^ 

Thus, with new-kindly love's afpiring flame. 

Spoke the fond youth conceal'd by £d win's name, 

The gallant Falkland, rich in native worth. 

By fortune bleft, and not of abje& birth. 

Warmly he fpoke, with that indignant heat 

With which the generous heart ne'er fails to beat^ 

When worth infulted wakens virtuous ire. 

And injured beauty fets^ the foul on fire. 

Quick to his voice the ftartled virgin tum'd. 

With wonder, hope, and joy, her bofom bum'd i 

With fweet confufion, flurried and amaz'd^ 

On his attraftive form flie wildly gaz'd« 

Full on her thought the friendly vifions rufh'd *; 

Blufiiing flie view'd him, view'd him ftill and blufhVl ; 

And, foft zSeQion quickening at the fight. 

Perchance had fwoon'd with fulnels of delight^ 



OP TEMPER. 159 

.«SS==S=S===S=ESSSSSSS=SSSS=SS=SS=SSS=5S^^ 

But that her father's voice, with quick control, 
Recaird the fun&ions of her fainting foul. 
When on the diflant feat, where, fondly fixt. 
He view'd the nymph as in the dance (he mixt^ 
He indi{lin6Uy heard, with wounded ear, 
The fpleenful outrage of the angry peer ; 
Swift at th' imperief): found, with choler wild. 
He fprung to fuccour his infulted child ; 
But ere his fury into language broke. 
Love calm'd the ftorm that arrogance awoke. 
The fudden burft of Falkland's tender flame^ 
His winning manners, his diftinguifli'd name, 
His liberal foul, by Fortune's finile careft, 
All join'd to harmonize the father's breaft. 
His fiery thoughts fubfide in glad furprife. 
And to the generous youth he warmly cries : 
<< Ingenuous Falkland ! by thy frankneis wcHi 
My willing heart would own thee for my fon; 
But on thy hopes Smkita muft decide .*<— • 
Hade we together from this houfe of pride.** 



tfo THB TAIUMPUS 

So fpoke the fire ; for, to her votiry kind^ 
SoPHROSYME infpir'd his ibften'd mind. 
Speaking, he (bird, to fee that on his word 
Thp lover hung, and bleft the (bunds he heard ; 
That his embarrafs'd child his fentence caught 
With each tumultuous iign of tender thought ; 
Whofii blufhes, fpringing from the heart, declare 
The dawn of fbndnefs in the modeft £iir. 
Th' enchanted youth with ecflafy convey'd 
Forth from the troubled feaft the trembling maid* 

As the keen Tailor, whom his daring ibul 
Has drawn, too vent'rous, near the freezing pole ; 
Who, having flighted Caution's tame advice. 
Seems wedg'd within impervious worlds of ice : 
If, from each chilling form of peril free, 
At length he reach the unincumber'd fea, 
With joy fuperior to his tranfient pain, 
Rufhes, exulting, o'er th' expanfive main : 
Such ftrong delight Serena's bofbm (har'd, 
When fweet r^flefitioa to l»er. benrt dficUr'd, 



OP TEMP£Jl« i6a 



That all the trials of her fate were paft. 
And Love's decifive plaudits feal'd the laft. 
Her airy guard prepares the fofteft down, 
From Peace's wing, to line the nuptul crown : 
Her fmiles accelerate the bridal mom, 
And clear her votary's path from every thorn. 
On the quick match the Prude's keen cenfures Ml^ 
Blind to the heavenly power who guided all : 
But mild Serin A fcom'd the prudifti play. 
To wound warm love with frivolous delay ; 
Nature's chafte child, not Affefbition's flave. 
The heart fhe meant to give, ihe fi:^nkly gaWb 
Thro* her glad fire no gouty humours run. 
Jocund he glories in his deftin'd ion. 
Pe N B L o p £ herielf, no longer feen 
In the four femblance of tormenting Spleen, 
Buys for her niece the robes of nuptial ftatc. 
Nor fcolds the mercer once thro' all the long debate. 
For quick difpatch, the honeft man of law 
Toils half the night the legal ties to draw. 



l6ft THt TRIUMPHS 

I I I ' ' ' l aaaaaaaaa—anK 

At length th' enraptur*d youth, all fomts complete^ 
Bean his fweet bride to his paternal ieat : 
On a fair lawn the theer^l manfion ftood. 
And high behind it rofe « circling wood» 
As the bleft lord of this extenfive reign 
Led his dear partner thro' her new domain, 

^'With fondfurpnfey Sbrbna foon defcried 
A temple nds'd to her aetherial guide. 
Its ornaments (he view'd with tender awe. 
Their fafhion fuch as (he in v'l&oa £iw ; 
For the kind youth, her grateful (mile to gain, 
Had» from her clear defcription, deck'd the fun;* 
Joyful he cried to his angelic wife, 
•* Be this kipd power the worfliip of our life !^ 
He fpoke ; and led her to the inmoft flirine ; 
Here, link'd in rofy bands, two votaries {hine$. 
The pencil had imparted life to each, 

. With energy that feem'd beyond its reach. 
Firft flood Connubial Love, a manly youth^ 
Whofc bright eye fpoke the ardent vows of truths 



OF TEMPER. 169 

I aaaasaaaaassaaaaai 

Friendfhip, fweet (iniling, fill'd the fecond place^ 
In all the fofter charms of virgin grace) 
Their meeting arms a myftic tablet raife, 
Deck'd with thefe lines, the moral of my lays:-*^ 
" Virtue's an ingot of Peruvian gold, 
Sense the bright ore Potoli's mines unfold ; 
But Temper's image muft their ufe create. 
And give thefe precious metals fterling weighti^** 




London : printed by R. NaB L b, 
in the Old fiailey. 



; 



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